Sergei Shoigu: Central Asia’s security issues can only be solved by coordinated action by all interested countries and international organizations

Following the rapid withdrawal of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan, the situation in the Central Asian region remains extremely tense. The new Afghan leadership is facing serious military and economic difficulties.
Sergei Shoigu, Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation, said this in a speech at the 10th International Security Conference held as part of the 2022 Army Forum.
Sergei Shoigu said the region, as a result of the 20-year presence of NATO troops in Afghanistan and their subsequent rapid withdrawal, “still has a high level of terrorist danger.”
The Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation is convinced that Central Asia’s security issues can only be solved by coordinated action by all interested countries and international organizations. “For our part, we will continue to support our Collective Security Treaty Organization allies in building the capabilities of the national armed forces,” Mr Shoigu said.
Sergei Shoigu stressed that it was important to keep the topic of Afghanistan on the discussion agenda of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
“Russia, China, India, Iran and Pakistan together could make a significant contribution not only to stabilizing the region, but also to preventing the threat from spilling over its borders,” the Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation said.