CSTO, UN stress ‘Afghanistan factor’ in Central Asia security discussions

Officials from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the United Nations have underscored the significance of the “Afghanistan factor” in regional stability during talks held in Moscow.

The meeting brought together CSTO Deputy Secretary General Samat Ordabayev and Kaha Imnadze, Special Representative and head of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia.

Discussions focused on evolving security dynamics across Central Asia, with particular attention to developments linked to Afghanistan.

According to the CSTO, both sides highlighted the importance of sustained monitoring of the situation in Afghanistan, alongside preventive measures aimed at addressing potential risks.

They also emphasized closer coordination with UN bodies to strengthen regional responses to emerging threats.

In a statement, the CSTO said that “ongoing monitoring of the impact of the Afghanistan factor on regional peace and security, as well as preventive actions to counter emerging threats, remain key priorities.”

The talks come amid repeated assurances from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan that its territory will not be used to threaten other countries and that border security remains under control.

At the same time, some analysts suggest that continued references to the “Afghanistan factor” in regional forums may reflect wider political dynamics, including efforts to shape engagement with Kabul.

Separately, CSTO Secretary General Talatbek Masadykov has indicated that a broader security meeting involving Afghanistan and Central Asian states is expected later this year, with participation from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the Commonwealth of Independent States.