CSTO should be ready for adequate, preventive measures to counter threats from Afghanistan, Islamic State - Putin

MOSCOW, December 23. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin voiced concern over the situation in Afghanistan. The member-countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation should be ready for adequate and preventive measures to counter threats from Afghanistan, Putin said at the CSTO summit. “The current situation arouses concern. Militants from the Islamic State terrorist group make a stab at including some provinces of Afghanistan into the so-called Islamic Caliphate,” he said. “Terrorist and extremist groups are trying to extend their activities in Central Asia,” Putin said. “Under these conditions, the CSTO countries should be ready for adequate, preventive measures,” he said. “It is necessary to pay growing attention to the Tajik-Afghan border and provide financial and material aid to Tajikistan for upgrading its Armed Forces,” Putin said. “We should continue cooperation with Afghanistan to fight the drug threat.” Over the last years over 1,000 Afghan law enforcers have undergone training in Russia. The special operation codenamed “Channel” is conducted annually to stop drug trafficking. In 2014 over 17 tonnes of drugs were confiscated, Putin said. “The CSTO should intensify close interaction with Afghanistan. Moreover, the completing withdrawal of international forces increases the security risks for the whole region,” he said. “We seek to see Afghanistan prosperous and neutral. We believe that the new Afghan leadership will do its best to stabilise the situation in the country,” Putin said. Read more