Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – The Russian Defense Minister, Andrey Belousov, has emphasized the urgent need to fortify Tajikistan’s borders in response to the escalating terrorism threat from Afghanistan.
Speaking at a meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Belousov underscored Afghanistan’s role as a central source of instability in Central Asia.
Belousov, recently appointed as the Russian Defense Minister, highlighted that numerous radical groups have established a foothold in Afghanistan, increasingly attempting to spread their influence to neighboring countries. “The risk of the spread of banditry and terrorism beyond Afghanistan is increasing,” he stated.
He stressed the importance of continuous monitoring and swift action to maintain regional stability, pointing out that these measures include strengthening the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border. Russia and its Central Asian allies view the activities of quasi-military groups in northern Afghanistan, near the Tajikistan border, as a significant threat. Concerns over the infiltration of these groups into Central Asia have been repeatedly expressed by these nations.
These warnings from Russian officials come as Russia seeks to enhance relations with the Taliban and considers the possibility of removing the group from its list of terrorist organizations. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently acknowledged the Taliban as the current authorities in Afghanistan, emphasizing the necessity of establishing relations with them.
