Bishkek (TDI): Beginning in 2026, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will start delivering weapons and military equipment to bolster the alliance’s southern borders, especially to reinforce the Tajik-Afghan frontier.
CSTO Secretary General Imangali Tasmagambetov announced the development during a meeting of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly in Bishkek.
Tasmagambetov said that the initiative stems from the Targeted Inter-State Program (TIP), approved in Astana in November last year.
This program reflects the CSTO’s collective resolve to address security issues along its southern periphery.
“The task now is to implement it in full,” he said. These security vulnerabilities were previously discussed during a meeting in April in Dushanbe with Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon.
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Tasmagambetov said that Taliban regime in Afghanistan is proving to be a long-term political factor, The Times of Central Asia reported.
He added that CSTO members, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia, have enhanced diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan to support regional stability.
The CSTO Secretariat will maintain vigilance and enhance coordination to counter emerging threats, Tasmagambetov added.
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In contrast to the ongoing security challenges, Tasmagambetov acknowledged notable developments in Central Asia.
He pointed to the March 13 state border deal between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, as well as the March 31 tripoint deal involving Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. These measures are considered as crucial in easing regional tensions.
The TIP for strengthening the Tajik-Afghan border is set to be implemented in three phases and will run until 2029.
Its goals include reinforcing southern Tajikistan’s military infrastructure and enhancing the region’s capacity to respond immediately to cross-border threats.
The program outlines steps for allied coordination, arms deliveries, and enhancements to logistics, communications, and border infrastructure.
