CSTO holds military drills in Tajikistan near Afghanistan border

KABUL (Khaama Press): The Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) announced that it conducted military exercises at the Harb Maidon training center in Tajikistan, near the border of Afghanistan.

According to the CSTO, the drills, held from October 11 to 14, involved Russian, Kazakh, and Kyrgyz forces, with a focus on preparing them to combat illegal armed groups planning attacks in the region. A video released by the CSTO shows a convoy of tanks and various military vehicles deployed in Tajikistan as part of the exercise.

For the past three years, regional organizations, including CSTO member states, have consistently expressed concerns about the threat of extremism spreading from Afghanistan into Central Asia.

This year, Kazakhstan holds the CSTO presidency and hosted another military exercise involving member states earlier this month. Additionally, representatives from more than 40 countries have recently raised alarms over the growing spread of extremism, radical religious ideologies, and racial discrimination during a meeting in Moscow, warning of potentially catastrophic consequences.

The increased focus on military preparedness by the CSTO highlights the escalating insecurity in the region, particularly with the persistent threat of extremist groups operating near Afghanistan’s borders.

As concerns about regional stability grow, coordinated military and diplomatic efforts will be crucial in preventing the spread of extremism and ensuring security in Central Asia, especially in light of the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan.