MOSCOW — The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) executive committee has endorsed a proposal by the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) to create a joint working group focused on establishing a security belt around Afghanistan.
The move comes amid heightened regional concerns over terrorism, drug trafficking, and unauthorized migration following the Taliban’s return to power.
The announcement was made by CIS Secretary-General Sergey Lebedev during a meeting of Commonwealth Security Council Secretaries in Moscow. “We hope that the work of this group will help defuse the situation in this region that pertains to the activities of international terrorist organizations, smuggling of narcotics and weapons, along with illegal migration,” Lebedev said, according to the TASS news agency.
The initiative aims to develop a comprehensive plan for constructing a security perimeter around Afghanistan, building on a concept first introduced by Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon at a CSTO summit in January 2022. A working group on Afghanistan was subsequently formed, reporting to the CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers and including representatives from the United Nations, the CIS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Afghan Embassy, and other interested parties.
The Taliban’s takeover has raised alarm across the region, with countries expressing concerns about potential terrorist threats emanating from Afghanistan. Iranian officials, for instance, have called for reinforced border security, including the construction of physical barriers to mitigate risks.
The CIS and CSTO’s collaborative efforts highlight the continued focus on regional stability as Afghanistan’s uncertain future poses security challenges for neighboring states.
