Commentary by the CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas on the dramatic change in the situation in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

The rapid offensive of the “Taliban” movement, coming of most of the territory of Afghanistan under its control, including the state borders and the capital, Kabul, as well as the actual change of power in the country, significantly affect the situation in the CSTO Central Asian region of collective security and cause deep concern.

The CSTO is closely monitoring situation development on the Tajik-Afghan border. The main goal of the Organization in the emerging circumstances remains to ensure the security of the CSTO member States. In this regard, the priority in the activities of the Organization continues to be given to political and diplomatic means. In the case of aggravation of the situation and threat to the security of the Republic of Tajikistan, all necessary collective measures, stipulated by the charter documents, will be taken to provide assistance to the ally.

Today I had telephone conversations with the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Tajikistan Sherali Mirzo and the Secretary of the Security Council of the country Nasrullo Mahmudzoda. At present, the Tajik law enforcement agencies fully control the situation on the border, and there is no need to involve the CSTO mechanisms.

Preparations have already begun for the CSTO Collective Forces trainings, which will take place near the Tajik-Afghan border in the coming months.

There is no doubt that the situation around Afghanistan will be one of the main issues of discussion in the course of the upcoming session of the CSTO Collective Security Council, which will be held in mid-September in Dushanbe, the capital of the Republic of Tajikistan.