Lavrov Warns Afghan Instability Threatens Regional Security Amid Middle East Tensions
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that ongoing instability in Afghanistan, coupled with escalating tensions in the Middle East, could have direct security consequences for member countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). He raised this issue during a meeting of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly Council, describing the current situation as alarming.
According to Russia’s TASS news agency, Lavrov said on Monday that insecurity surrounding Afghanistan, along with the crisis in the Persian Gulf, will impact the security of CSTO member states. The organization mainly comprises several Central Asian and Caucasus countries that closely monitor developments in Afghanistan.
Lavrov highlighted the internal situation in Afghanistan, emphasizing that the country still faces challenges such as terrorism and drug trafficking. Over the past four years and more, following the Taliban’s takeover, regional concerns have grown regarding the expansion of extremist groups and trafficking networks in some areas. Afghanistan’s neighbors have called for concrete measures to curb these threats.
The Russian foreign minister also accused the United States and Israel of carrying out “aggressive actions” against Iran and noted that conflicts in Lebanon and military operations in Syria are expanding. He added that the ongoing deadlock over the Palestinian issue and the diminishing prospects for an independent Palestinian state in Gaza and the West Bank have further complicated the regional situation.
Lavrov stressed that concerns are not limited to the Middle East; countries in the Caspian Sea region, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia have also expressed worries about the potential spillover of instability. Referring to his recent trip to a diplomatic conference in Antalya, he said that several participants, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, warned about the repercussions of the Persian Gulf crisis on surrounding areas.
The Russian foreign minister emphasized that various regions are interconnected and that a crisis in one area can spread to others. At the same time, the CSTO Secretary General stated that Afghanistan continues to pose a potential threat to Central Asian countries.
