MOSCOW, 23 August (BelTA) – CSTO heads of state advocate an inclusive peaceful dialogue in Afghanistan, reads a statement on the CSTO's website following the emergency videoconference session of the CSTO Collective Security Council on 23 August, BelTA has learned.
“Members of the Collective Security Council had a thorough exchange of views on the situation in Afghanistan and its impact on the security of the CSTO member states,” the statement said. “During the session, the heads of state expressed their concern over the sharp deterioration of the situation in Afghanistan. They stressed the importance of restoring the legitimate government in Afghanistan through an inclusive peaceful dialogue, taking into account the interests of all social, political, ethnic and religious groups in the country. It was noted that the political regime in Afghanistan should rely on the free expression of the will of the entire Afghan people. Strict consideration, safeguarding and protecting the socio-political interests of all sectors of society is vital to the sustainability of any Afghan government."
“Taking into account the increasing presence of militants of international terrorist organizations in Afghanistan, which use the country as a reserve platform for creating strongholds for further activities and expansion, the CSTO member states agreed to take additional efforts to counter the challenges and threats coming from Afghanistan,” the statement reads. “An agreement was reached to accelerate the work on the target interstate program proposed by Tajikistan within the framework of the CSTO to strengthen sections of the Tajik-Afghan border. Members of the Collective Security Council agreed to continue exchanging views on the situation in Afghanistan during the CSTO summit in Dushanbe on 26 September.”
The emergency session of the CSTO Collective Security Council was held on the initiative of Russia. It was chaired by Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon, who is the current chairman of the CSTO Collective Security Council. It was attended by Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Zhaparov, Russian President Vladimir Putin and CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas. The event was also attended by Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
