The Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Imangali Tasmagambetov, has announced that military weapons and equipment will be provided next year to strengthen the borders between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
Imangali Tasmagambetov also said that member states of the organization have increased their diplomatic engagements with Afghanistan to support regional stability.
He warned that despite efforts to stabilize the region, Afghanistan still faces serious threats such as terrorism, arms smuggling, and the drug trade.
The organization’s statement reads: “The Taliban regime is proving to be a long-term political factor. A number of the CSTO member states (Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia) have intensified bilateral contacts with the Afghan authorities in order to help improve social stability and maintain security in that country.”
“The name CSTO itself indicates it seeks the region’s and member countries’ security. It is better that concerns about drugs be addressed through understanding with the Islamic Emirate and that diplomatic interaction be pursued,” said Aziz Maarej, a former diplomat.
Political analysts believe that there needs to be an environment for trust-building between Kabul and Dushanbe.
“There are two or three concerns among CSTO countries for which they want to reinforce their borders. On the other hand, the Islamic Emirate has repeatedly said that Afghanistan’s soil will not be used against any country,” said Janat Faheem Chakari, a political analyst.
“To create an atmosphere of trust, both countries must take steps and implement actions that further strengthen that trust,” said Edris Mohammadi Zazai, another political analyst.
Previously, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate assessed Kabul-Dushanbe relations as positive and stated that there are no problems in these relations.