The CSTO CFM Working Group on Afghanistan considered the Afghan situation

The 36th meeting of the CSTO CFM Working Group on Afghanistan considered the Afghan situation. Participants of the 36th meeting of the Working Group on Afghanistan under the CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers with the participation of Samat Ordabaev, CSTO deputy Secretary General, noted the continued potential risks and threats posed by the terrorist groups activity, illegal drug trafficking, illegal migration and trafficking in weapons from Afghanistan. Participants of the Working Group meeting included delegations of the CSTO Member States, representatives of the UNOCT, UNRCCA, SCO RATS, CIS ATC, CIS CCBT Coordination Service and ICRC, the CSTO website reports. Opening the meeting, Samat Ordabaev stressed the importance of coordination of positions between the CSTO Member States on all key aspects of the Afghan issue. He noted that this issue was thoroughly discussed at the meeting of the leaders of the CSTO Member States in Moscow on May 16, as well as during the joint session of the CSTO CFM, CMD and CSSC and the CSTO CSC session on November 23 in Yerevan. The meeting noted the deteriorating economic situation in Afghanistan and the impoverishment of its population.

In this context, it emphasized the positive role of economic and humanitarian support provided by the Member States of the Organization to the Afghan people and the importance of enhancing the international community efforts for the post-conflict reconstruction of Afghanistan. At the end, the meeting summarized the results of the work of the Group for the second half of 2022 and adopted the action plan for the first half of 2023. The next meeting of the Working Group is scheduled for the first half of 2023.

As you may recall, the meeting of the CSTO PA Council of July 1, 2021 adopted a statement on the Afghan issue.

In October 2021, members of the Coordination Council of Chairpersons of Committees (Commissions) on Defence and Security of the Parliaments of the CSTO Member States under the CSTO PA Council monitored the military and political situation in the Central Asian region of the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Area, taking part in the Vzaimodeistvie 2021 exercise of the CSTO Collective Forces at the Harbmaidon training range.