Saimumin Yatimov, the head of Tajikistan’s State Committee for National Security, has raised concerns about the situation in Afghanistan and called for implementing new operational methods along the Afghan borders.

Speaking at the 56th meeting of the Council of Heads of Security Agencies and Special Services of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Yatimov stated that the threat of international terrorism and the emergence of tension hotspots near the borders, particularly in Afghanistan, require new working strategies.

According to Russian media reports, Yatimov identified international terrorism as one of the main threats to the CIS countries.

However, the Islamic Emirate has not responded to these remarks. It has repeatedly dismissed such concerns as unfounded, emphasizing that it does not allow anyone to use Afghan soil for hostile purposes.

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon was also present at the meeting and urged CIS member states to strengthen their security cooperation in light of growing regional challenges.

The 56th meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Security Agencies and Special Services was held on Friday in Dushanbe, Tajikistan’s capital.

Member states of the council include Russia, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.

Meanwhile, Turkmenistan participated in the meeting as an observer.

Following first phone call between foreign ministers of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) and India, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said on Friday that Islamabad refrains from commenting on the bilateral relations of other states.

“Afghanistan is a sovereign, independent country. We do not comment on what kind of relations it wants to pursue with other countries. It is Afghanistan’s sovereign right,” the spokesperson said in a press conference.

However, the spokesperson emphasized that regardless of the nature of Afghanistan’s relations with any third country, Pakistan expects IEA to ensure that Afghanistan’s soil is not used against Pakistan.

Last Thursday, for the first time, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar held phone talks with IEA’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

Acting Justice Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), Abdul Hakim Sharei, left for Russia on Saturday to participate in the 13th St. Petersburg International Legal Forum.

The three-day conference will kick off on coming Monday and will be attended by ministers of justice, judicial officials and legal experts from various countries.

Acting Minister of Justice of the Islamic Emirate will deliver a speech on the nature of laws, the need for reforms in international law, ensuring justice and the role of the Islamic Emirate in international relations, the Ministry of Justice said in a statement.