Statement by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the CSTO member states on the situation in Afghanistan

We, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the CSTO member states, note the importance of strengthening regional cooperation on issues related to Afghanistan.

We emphasize that strengthening peace and stability in Afghanistan and countering threats emanating from its territory, including terrorism, violent extremism conducive to terrorism, and drug-related crime, are in our common interests in the region.

We express serious concern over the security situation in the context of the terrorist threat in Afghanistan, noting that terrorist groups based in Afghanistan pose a serious threat to the security of the CSTO member states.

We note the importance of establishing an inclusive government in Afghanistan that will represent the interests of all segments of the population and ethnic groups and fulfill its commitments to ensuring fundamental human rights and freedoms, including the rights of women and girls, including access to employment and education.

We express concern over the ongoing persecution on ethnic and religious grounds in Afghanistan.

We are concerned about the growing threats in the provinces of Afghanistan bordering the CSTO Central Asian Collective Security Region.

In order to maintain regional security and stability, we call for keeping the territories of Afghanistan and neighboring states free from the deployment of military infrastructure of third countries.

We consider it necessary to expand regional coordination in the counter-terrorism and counter-narcotics spheres. In this regard, we call on the de facto authorities of Afghanistan to focus their efforts on combating terrorism and the drug threat.

We express concern over the continuing drug problem in Afghanistan despite measures being taken by the local authorities. We emphasize the importance of continuing coordinated efforts to combat the spread of drug trafficking to neighboring countries.

We reaffirm our readiness to implement the CSTO Interstate Targeted Programme to strengthen the Tajik-Afghan border.

We support continued efforts by the international community to provide assistance to the Afghan people, including by relieving them of the burden of unilateral sanctions.

We believe that developing economic interconnectedness and integrating Afghanistan into regional economic systems will contribute to strengthening peace and stability.

We note the potential of the Collective Security Treaty Organization to assist in establishing Afghanistan as a peaceful, independent and united state free from war, terrorism and drugs. We will intensify the dialogue on Afghanistan within the framework of the Working Group on Afghanistan under the CSTO Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs.

We welcome the work of the Moscow Format of consultations on Afghanistan and note the potential of other multilateral platforms for the Afghan settlement.

We also note the initiative of the Republic of Tajikistan to develop the concept of creating a “security belt” around Afghanistan.

We reaffirm our readiness to continue joint efforts to strengthen regional security and provide support to the Afghan people.