The likelihood of the further spread of terrorism and criminal drug trafficking from Afghanistan has not only not decreased at present, but has acquired new forms as well.

This was stated by CSTO Secretary General Imangali Tasmagambetov at a meeting of the UN Security Council.

“Afghanistan remains the main source of instability in the Central Asian region. Despite the well-known positive changes in this country, the likelihood of the spread of terrorism, radical ideology and criminal drug trafficking not only does not decrease, but takes on new forms,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the CSTO notes additional challenges related to “signs of competition for the natural resources of this region, primarily for water, which could cause interstate conflicts.”

“Despite the severity of the issue, we successfully maintain control in this area of responsibility,” the Secretary General noted.

According to him, the organization pays special attention to monitoring and forecasting possible unrolling of the situation.

He emphasized that the CSTO is also implementing a number of large-scale practical measures aimed at reducing tensions and strengthening the Afghan-Tajik border.

Earlier, the permanent representative of the Russian Federation to the CSTO Viktor Vasiliev said that all countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization support the program to strengthen the border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.