Russian President Vladimir Putin says the security situation in Afghanistan is receiving particular attention as the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) works to strengthen security along the external borders of its member states.
According to Russia’s state-run RIA Novosti news agency, Putin made the remarks on Wednesday, November 11, during a meeting of the CSTO Collective Security Council at the Kremlin. The meeting, chaired by Putin, addressed regional security issues and cooperation among member states.
Putin’s comments come as security along Tajikistan’s border with Afghanistan remains a major concern for the organisation. The CSTO secretary-general has previously identified joint action against cross-border threats and implementation of a programme to strengthen the Tajik-Afghan border as key security priorities.
The organisation is pursuing a five-year programme to reinforce Tajikistan’s border with Afghanistan. Recent reports have also described plans by CSTO member states to provide Tajikistan with military and technical equipment intended to improve its border-protection capabilities.
The focus on Afghanistan reflects the country’s continuing place in the security calculations of Russia and other CSTO members. For Moscow and its regional partners, developments in Afghanistan are closely linked to concerns about stability in Central Asia, particularly along the region’s southern frontier.
However, heightened security planning should not be confused with evidence of a specific imminent threat. The available statements do not establish that an attack has been launched or that a particular threat has crossed from Afghan territory into a neighbouring country.
The distinction is important: strengthening border capabilities may reflect precautionary planning and broader regional concerns rather than confirmation of an immediate security incident. The effectiveness of the CSTO’s approach will depend not only on equipment and military readiness, but also on regional coordination and the ability to address cross-border risks without escalating tensions.
