We, the Foreign Ministers of the member States of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, note the importance of strengthening regional cooperation on Afghanistan issues.
We emphasize that it is in our common interests in the region to strengthen peace and stability in Afghanistan, to counter the threats of terrorism emanating from its territory, violent extremism leading to terrorism, as well as drug crime.
We express serious concern about the security situation in the context of the terrorist threat in Afghanistan, noting that terrorist groups based in Afghanistan pose a serious threat to the security of the CSTO member states.
We note the importance of forming an inclusive government in Afghanistan, which will represent the interests of all segments of the population and ethnic groups, and implement its obligations to ensure basic human rights and freedoms, including the rights of women and girls, including access to work and education.
We express our concern about the ongoing persecution on national and religious grounds in Afghanistan.
We are concerned about the growing threats in the provinces of Afghanistan adjacent to the Central Asian region of the CSTO collective security.
In order to maintain regional security and stability, we call for the preservation of the territories of Afghanistan and neighboring States free from the deployment of military infrastructure facilities of third countries.
We consider it necessary to expand regional coordination in the counter-terrorism and anti-drug spheres. In this regard, we call on the de facto Afghan authorities to direct efforts to combat terrorism and the drug threat.
We express our concern about the continuing drug problem in Afghanistan, despite the measures taken by the local authorities. We emphasize the importance of continuing coordinated efforts to combat the spread of drug trafficking to neighboring countries.
We confirm our readiness to implement the CSTO’s Targeted Interstate Program to strengthen the Tajik-Afghan border.
We support the continued efforts of the international community to provide assistance to the Afghan people, including their relief from the burden of unilateral sanctions.
We believe that the development of economic interconnectedness and the integration of Afghanistan into regional economic systems will contribute to strengthening peace and stability.
We note the potential of the Collective Security Treaty Organization in contributing to the establishment of Afghanistan as a peaceful, independent, united and free from war, terrorism and drugs State. We are intensifying the dialogue on Afghanistan within the framework of the Working Group on Afghanistan under the CSTO Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs.
We welcome the work of the Moscow format of consultations on Afghanistan and note the potential of other multilateral platforms for the Afghan settlement.
We also note the initiative of the Republic of Tajikistan to develop the concept of creating a “security belt” around Afghanistan.
We confirm our readiness to continue joint steps to strengthen regional security and provide support to the Afghan people.
