CSTO members stress continued support for Afghanistan at 42nd working group meeting
Officials also underlined the necessity for continued monitoring of developments in Afghanistan and the importance of encouraging progress toward long-term peace and stability.
The 42nd meeting of the Working Group on Afghanistan under the CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers was convened on December 3, 2025, at the CSTO Secretariat, bringing together senior representatives from CSTO member states and major international organizations.
Participants included officials from the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, UNRCCA, CIS Anti-Terrorism Center, SCO RATS, CIS Council of Border Guard Commanders, and the ICRC, alongside CSTO Secretariat staff and state delegations.
During the meeting, attendees conducted an in-depth review of the current situation in Afghanistan, highlighting the ongoing high levels of security risks and regional threats emanating from the country.
The delegations unanimously emphasized the importance of maintaining humanitarian and economic support for the Afghan population, especially in the face of existing challenges and regional instability.
Officials also underlined the necessity for continued monitoring of developments in Afghanistan and the importance of encouraging progress toward long-term peace and stability.
The session concluded with the adoption of the official minutes of the 42nd meeting and approval of the Working Group’s Plan for the first half of 2026, marking another step in CSTO’s regional engagement strategy.
Afghanistan’s national futsal team recorded an impressive 5–2 victory over Vietnam in a friendly match on Tuesday as part of the team’s preparations for the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026, which will be held in Indonesia.
Hamid Reza Hosseini and Reza Hosseinpour each scored one goal, while Seyed Mojtaba Hosseini starred with a hat-trick, sealing the win for Afghanistan.
The friendly encounter provided valuable international match experience as Afghanistan continues to fine-tune its squad and tactics ahead of the continental tournament.
Vietnam managed to score twice but struggled to contain Afghanistan’s offensive pressure throughout the game. The match was played two days after Afghanistan beat the same team 5-3.
The AFC Asian Futsal Cup will kick off on January 27 in Indonesia, featuring 16 of Asia’s top teams. Afghanistan has been drawn into Group C, alongside regional powerhouse Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia, making qualification for the knockout stage a significant challenge.
The Asian Cup is regarded as Asia’s premier futsal competition and also serves as an important platform for emerging teams to gain international exposure at the continental level.
All matches of the tournament will be broadcast live by Ariana Television across Afghanistan, allowing fans nationwide to closely follow Afghanistan’s journey in the competition.
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