Azerbaijan’s State Security Service (SSS) hosted an international conference on  “Afghanistan: Regional Connectivity, Security, and Development”, which brought together intelligence officials from 20 countries. 

The event, held in Baku, was opened by the head of Azerbaijan’s SSS, Colonel-General Ali Naghiyev, who noted the importance of the event and said it was extremely important for the world to provide comprehensive support to Afghanistan. 

He expressed hope that the event would “make a significant contribution to the establishment of a centralised state in Afghanistan, adhering to the norms and principles of international law”.

Speaking about the longstanding Azerbaijan-Afghanistan relations, built on mutual trust, as well as the deep historical and cultural ties between the two countries, Naghiyev noted that Azerbaijan has always supported international initiatives aimed at ensuring internal political stability and security in Afghanistan and has never spared efforts in this direction.

Naghiyev also emphasised the need for comprehensive support from countries around the world for Afghanistan in its fight against transnational organised crime, including international terrorism, drug trafficking, and illegal migration.

Highlighting that one of the main goals of the event was to develop a unified stance on preventing destructive attempts by sabotage forces and terrorist groups interested in maintaining the tense situation in Afghanistan, the head of the SSS noted the importance of ensuring that Afghanistan takes its rightful place in the international system, with peace being established in the country. 

He expressed confidence that the countries of the region and other states would act in coordination and make joint efforts toward this goal.

Other intelligence officials also addressed participants and noted that such meetings would lead to serious steps being taken to ensure peace and security in Afghanistan.