CSTO heads discuss regional issues in council session

KABUL (TOLOnews): Heads of states at a session of the member states of the Collective Security Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), discussed a range of regional issues, including narcotics and counterterrorism.
The situation of Afghanistan was also highlighted during the meeting.
Speaking at the session, the president of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, said that the continuation of humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan is important. He also said that his country has provided emergency assistance to the victims of recent earthquakes in western Afghanistan.
The President of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov, told the session that his country is interested in peace and stability in Afghanistan. He also stressed the need for inclusive negotiations to solve the current issues in Afghanistan and said that his country supports the continuation of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.
The CSTO’s members also in a joint statement expressed their concerns over trafficking of narcotics from Afghanistan.
“Expressing concern about the challenges posed by trafficking in opiates and methamphetamine from Afghanistan, as well as cocaine, cannabis, synthetic drugs…,” the statement reads.
“The interim government of Afghanistan should take practical steps regarding its commitment towards the international community and neighbors regarding the cultivation of narcotics and production of narcotics,” said Naijb Rahman Shamal, political analyst.
However, the Islamic Emirate’s officials have not commented about the statement but earlier said that narcotics production has dropped to zero.
The meeting was attended by the President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, as well as the CSTO Secretary General Imangali Tasmagambetov, according to the office of the president of Kazakhstan.