In a statement delivered at an international conference in Dushanbe, Russian Ambassador to Tajikistan Igor Lyakin-Frolov noted on September 29 that Russia is concerned over increase in threats emanating from Afghanistan, says Russian ambassador.
“The situation in Afghanistan, especially in its northern provinces bordering Central Asia’s nations, remains extremely tense. It concerns, firs to all, Tajikistan, which has 1,344-kilometer common border with Afghanistan,” Ambassador Lyakin-Frolov said, according to Russia’s RIA Novosti.
“As friend and strategic partner of Central Asia’s nations, Russia cannot fail to be seriously concerned at the rising tide of challenges and threats emanating from Afghan territory,” Russian diplomat stressed.
He further noted that international community and, first of all, friendly countries should provide necessary assistance to the Central Asian countries in effectively addressing those challenges and threats.
Russian ambassador reportedly noted that the Russian Federation was rendering military and technical assistance to Tajikistan and joint military exercises were being held both within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and at bilateral format.
Recall, an international conference entitled “The Fight against Terrorism and Extremism in Eurasia: Common Threats and Combined Experience” was organized by the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of Tajikistan
The event brought together officials from Central Asia’s nations and Russia as well as regional organizations. Journalists have not been invited to the conference.
The conference reportedly discussed ways and methods of consolidation of efforts to jointly combating terrorism and extremism in Eurasia.
According to the Center for Strategic Studies, the conference participants included representatives of relevant government bodies of Tajikistan, Tajik and Russian parliamentarians, representatives of Central Asian diplomatic missions active in Tajikistan, deputy heads of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Executive Committee of the regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (CSTO) as well as heads of think tanks from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan.
The conference participants discussed issues related to problems of regional security, including threats and challenges that are becoming more and more complicated and infringing the main problems of internal and foreign policy of the countries of the region.
The conference has reportedly become an important step toward determining the agenda of the day in the field of regionals security, formation of permanent expert groups and establishment of platforms for dialogues with participation of representatives of member nations of the CSTO and SCO and Afghanistan.
