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Tajik President calls for ‘security belt’ around Afghanistan
Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon has again expressed concern over security threats posed by Afghanistan to the region and has called for a “security belt” to be built around the country.
Addressing delegates attending an International and Regional Border Security and Management Cooperation to Counter Terrorism conference on Tuesday in Dushanbe, Rahmon said “the transfer of terrorist fighters from the war-torn areas of the Middle East to other regions and the strengthening of the positions of international terrorist organizations in Afghanistan poses a serious threat to the Central Asian states.”
He said Tajikistan and Afghanistan share a 1,400 kilometer border that includes “complicated mountainous terrain”.
Rahmon said that over the past two years, Tajikistan has built and put into use more than 175 border facilities.
“It is worth mentioning that at the same time the construction of 30 other facilities is going on, and we need to build another 300 of this kind of facilities in the future.
“In this regard, urgent efforts would be important to implement the initiative of Tajikistan – the concept of [a] ‘Security Belt’ around Afghanistan in order to prevent and reduce the consequences of dangers and threats,” he said.
This comes just days after the Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) decided on joint measures by member countries to counter threats posed by international terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the council of RATS that was hosted by India in New Delhi last week.
The meeting was attended by senior officials of all the member nations including China and Pakistan, India’s media reported.
However, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to not allow terrorist groups to use Afghanistan soil to attack other countries.
The IEA has also stated that no terrorist organization is operating out of Afghanistan.
In addition, the IEA has on a number of occasions carried out operations to eliminate militant elements in the country, including Daesh members.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special representative for Afghanistan, has questioned Pakistan’s commitment to the welfare of the Afghan people, citing Islamabad’s policies over the past three decades.
Khalilzad said in a post on X that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif advocated for the rights of Afghan women during his speech at the UN General Assembly on Friday.
Sharif said: “Fundamental rights of the Afghan people — especially women and girls — must be respected.”
Responding to the remarks, Khalilzad said Pakistan’s policies over the past 30 years raise questions about Sharif’s commitment to Afghan welfare.
He cited Pakistan’s support for militant groups against US forces and what he described as the poor treatment of Afghan refugees as examples.
Khalilzad also said Afghanistan and Pakistan need and should have much better relations, adding that “a reset is necessary.”
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Rabab Fatima, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X that Misri underscored the need to keep addressing the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people as a priority.
Misri also appreciated the role of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and reaffirmed India’s continued cooperation with the United Nations on Afghanistan.
The meeting comes as Afghanistan continues to face humanitarian and economic challenges, with international agencies warning of significant needs among the Afghan population.
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi has called for pragmatic and coordinated international engagement with Afghanistan, saying the country’s long-term stability is closely linked to the security and sustainable development of Central Asia.
Speaking during the general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, Tileuberdi said humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan remains essential but alone cannot break the cycle of poverty, displacement and dependency.
He said Kazakhstan supports a “pragmatic, coordinated and step-by-step” approach to international engagement with Afghanistan, with the United Nations playing a central role.
Tileuberdi also said Kazakhstan is working with the UN to operationalize the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty.
He said the success of the centre should be measured by the results and assistance it delivers to the region.
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