Imangali Tasmagambetov, secretary general of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, in a meeting with Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana on Monday discussed security concerns related to Afghanistan, particularly along border areas, according to an official statement.
The statement said the discussions focused on Afghanistan, with particular attention to strengthening security along the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border, a key concern for Central Asian states.
According to the CSTO, the meeting reviewed progress on an intergovernmental program aimed at reinforcing that frontier.
Tasmagambetov said meetings of foreign and defense ministers, as well as security officials from member states, are expected in the coming months to further coordinate efforts.
Concerns related to Afghanistan have remained a priority for Central Asian countries and CSTO members since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, particularly regarding border security and potential cross-border threats.
Taliban have sought to reassure neighboring countries. In a meeting with officials from Central Asian nations in Kabul last week, Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said their administration’s attention to prevention of Afghanistan’s territory from being used against other countries should be taken “very serious”.
However, regional organizations have continued to emphasize border-related risks. At a recent meeting, the Commonwealth of Independent States warned that conditions in Afghanistan could affect border security in Central Asia in the medium term.
Participants at that meeting also discussed measures to maintain stability along external borders.
