CSTO Concerned Over Afghanistan-Pakistan Tensions, Calls for Peaceful Resolution
Secretary General Masadykov warns of cross-border challenges to Central Asia at parliamentary assembly meeting
Quick Look
- The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) expressed concern about the deteriorating relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which have led to armed clashes.
- CSTO Secretary General Taalatbek Masadykov called on both sides and the international community to find peaceful solutions, while emphasizing the organization's continued monitoring of Afghan-related threats and the importance of strengthening the Tajik-Afghan border.
AI-generated summary
MOSCOW, April 20. /TASS/. The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is concerned about the downturn in relations between Kabul and Islamabad and believes peace must be reached, CSTO Secretary General Taalatbek Masadykov said at a meeting of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly Council.
"We're paying close attention to Afghanistan as a source of potential cross-border challenges and threats to Central Asia. The sharp aggravation of relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which has led to armed clashes, is concerning," Masadykov said.
"We are convinced that both sides of the conflict, as well as the international community, should use all possibilities to find peaceful ways out of the current situation," he stressed.
The CSTO secretary general said that "the organization continues to monitor challenges and threats related to the Afghan issue using the capabilities of the Working Group on Afghanistan under the CSTO Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs."
He noted "increasing interest in the activities of this working group from specialized agencies of the UN, CIS, SCO, and other international organizations."
According to Masadykov, "the implementation of the targeted interstate program for strengthening the Tajik-Afghan border remains a key task."
"Its approval by the leaders of our states demonstrated the readiness of allies to strengthen the southern borders of the organization together," he said.
