Tensions are building up in India’s western neighbourhood with Tajikistan making defence preparedness along its border with Afghanistan.
The Collective Security Treaty Organisation or CSTO of Eurasia has deployed weapons along the Tajik-Afghan border anticipating clashes and conflict and to prevent any terror attacks into Tajikistan, ET has learnt. Tajikistan is a member of CSTO that also comprises Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Belarus. Interestingly, Russia has recognised Taliban 2.0, the only country to formally do so.
The CSTO members have emphasised the need to strengthen Tajikistan’s border with Afghanistan during a recent meeting.
Participants of the meeting also finalised a list of weapons, military equipment and technical tools intended for border protection which are to be produced by CSTO member states and delivered to Tajik border forces.
According to a CSTO press release, “A meeting of representatives of the customer-coordinator and national state customers of the Targeted Interstate Program of the Collective Security Treaty Organization to strengthen the Tajik-Afghan border was held at the CSTO Secretariat. Acting CSTO Secretary General Valery Semerikov took part in the event.”
The CSTO members in the past had emphasised the need to bolster the Tajik-Afghan border in various meetings.
Ties between Tajikistan and Afghanistan have been tense ever since Taliban 2.0 came to power in Kabul in 2021. Nearly 30% of Afghanistan’s population are of Tajik origin and leaders of anti-Taliban Northern Alliance are based in Tajikistan.
The move comes amid concerns among regional countries regarding the possible infiltration of ISIS terrorists from Afghanistan.
Tajikistan, which shares a 1,300-km border with Afghanistan, has been especially vocal, warning of the deteriorating humanitarian and security conditions just across the border. Officials from the Taliban have consistently downplayed these concerns, insisting that Afghanistan poses no threat to its neighbours.