The Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) held a meeting on strengthening the Tajik-Afghan border, Stopterror.uz reported citing bugin.info.

Participants discussed a plan for a programme aimed at ensuring stability and security in the context of an unstable situation in the region, where conflicts continue and the threat of cross-border crime is growing.

Tajikistan, which shares a long border with Afghanistan, remains a key CSTO outpost in Central Asia. Experts note that since the change of power in Afghanistan in 2021, the situation in the border regions created new challenges for Tajik security forces. Drug trafficking, illegal migration and the activity of extremist groups are forcing CSTO countries to look for new approaches to border defence.

 

During the meeting, representatives of member states emphasised the need to coordinate efforts. The proposed plan includes strengthening border infrastructure, providing modern equipment and conducting joint military exercises. Special attention is paid to intelligence and information exchange between the countries to prevent threats at early stages.

Experts believe that the decision taken by CSTO could be an important step in containing regional risks. However, some analysts express doubts about the effectiveness of the measures without resolving the situation inside Afghanistan itself. “As long as there is chaos there, the border will remain vulnerable,” a political analyst from Dushanbe emphasized. 

The meeting ended with an agreement to launch pilot projects as early as April 2025. If successful, the programme could be expanded to other problem areas on CSTO borders. The participants expressed hope that joint efforts would help not only to stabilise the region, but also strengthen trust among the organisation members. In the context of global uncertainty, such a step looks like a decisive response to the challenges of the time.