Saturday, February 29 2020 15:38

ArmInfo.The member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization issued a joint statement on the situation in Afghanistan. The Russian Foreign  Ministry reported this to ArmInfo.

"The CSTO member states express concern about the tense  military-political situation in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan,  especially in its northern provinces, and note the high intensity of  hostilities and the ongoing terrorist attacks throughout the country.  Of particular concern is the increasing number of civilian  casualties.

The CSTO member states are deeply concerned about the presence of the  Islamic State group (ISIS) and a number of other terrorist groups in  Afghanistan and consider it necessary to intensify efforts to  neutralize them.

The CSTO member states are convinced that the problem of drug  production and smuggling is inextricably linked with the terrorist  threat, and draw attention to the need to strengthen the fight  against illicit drug production and intensify international  cooperation to close the channels for illegal drug trafficking from  Afghanistan.

The CSTO member states emphasize the inevitability of a political  diplomatic settlement of the situation in the IRA and welcome the  efforts of the world community to achieve peace in Afghanistan,  including within the framework of the Moscow format of consultations  on Afghanistan and the Inter-Afghan dialogue launched in February  2019, note the US-initiated negotiations with the Taliban Movement,  and the activities of the United Nations Assistance Mission in  Afghanistan (UNAMA).

The CSTO member states will continue their joint activities in the  Afghan direction in the format of the Organization, including within  the framework of the Working Group on Afghanistan under the CSTO  Council of Foreign Ministers, in order to counter the challenges and  threats to regional security emanating from the territory of the IRA.

The CSTO member states advocate the consolidation of society, the  establishment of domestic political stability for the benefit of all  Afghans and the achievement of lasting peace in Afghanistan, which  will contribute to strengthening regional and global security, "the  CSTO countries said in a joint statement.

To recall, the Collective Security Treaty Organization includes  Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

To note, today in Qatar, a ceremony of signing an agreement between  the United States and the Taliban movement (prohibited in the Russian  Federation) should be held. The adoption of the agreement will be the  result of US-Taliban negotiations that continued in Qatar for almost  a year and a half. It is expected that after the signing of the  document it will be possible to resolve the issue of inter-Afghan  negotiations, the possibility of which gives hope for the restoration  of peace in the country.

To recall, on the day of signing the agreement with the Taliban, US  Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and NATO Secretary General Jens  Stoltenberg will arrive in Kabul to announce a joint declaration with  the participation of the President of the IRA, Mohammad Ashraf Ghani  and other dignitaries.

US President Donald Trump commented on the upcoming signing of the  US-Taliban agreement, declaring his readiness to withdraw US troops  from Afghanistan.