Speaking at an online conference with his counterparts from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddn Muhriddin noted on May 26 that Tajikistan, as a country having the longest border with Afghanistan, has been taking all military and political measures to mitigate threats emanating from that country, according to the Tajik MFA information department.  

Tajik minister, in particular, stressed that the current situation requires an adequate response from the CSTO member nations, including effective measures to strengthen the protection of the Organization’s southern borders.  

Muhriddin reportedly also outlined priorities of cooperation of Tajikistan in the framework of the CSTO and pointed to the necessity of the fight against international terrorism and extremism, drug trafficking and trafficking in weapons.      

During the online conference, the CSTO foreign ministers discussed issues related to development of the Organization’s peacekeeping potential and cooperation of the CSTO with regional organizations such as the CIS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The ministers reportedly adopted a number of joint statements, in particular, on solidarity and mutual assistance in combating the coronavirus infection. 

The member nations of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) include Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.