Russian President Vladimir Putin during a telephone conversation with his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rahmon discussed the situation in Afghanistan. This was reported on Thursday by the Kremlin press service.
"The parties discussed pressing issues on the bilateral agenda, the development of the situation in Afghanistan, as well as the progress of preparations for the upcoming SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) summit in Dushanbe this fall and a session of the CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization) Collective Security Council," the message reads.
It is noted that the conversation was held on the initiative of the Tajik side.
The last time the presidents spoke by telephone was on July 5, and then the situation on the Tajik-Afghan border was also discussed. Putin reaffirmed his readiness to provide Tajikistan with the necessary support, both bilaterally and within the CSTO.
On 14 April, US President Joe Biden announced the decision to end the US military operation in Afghanistan and plans to withdraw troops. After this the situation in the country sharply escalated. As of mid-July the Pentagon reported that more than 95% of the American troops were withdrawn from Afghanistan. At the same time, according to representatives of the Taliban movement (banned in the Russian Federation), they succeeded in establishing control over 85% of the territory of the republic, including the areas along the borders with five countries - Iran, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
About the SCO and the CSTO
The September summit of SCO will be a jubilee one. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization will mark 20 in 2021. As Special Representative of the Russian President for the SCO and Ambassador at Large of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bakhtiyor Khakimov previously reported in an interview with TASS, a solid package of documents is being prepared for signing, the most important of which will be the Dushanbe Declaration of the SCO 20th Anniversary.
The Collective Security Treaty Organisation will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2022, too. On May 19, participants of the Council of the CSTO Foreign Ministers approved a draft plan of events dedicated to the 20th anniversary of this organization, as well as draft documents, some of which will be submitted to the session of the CSTO Collective Security Council scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year in Dushanbe. Among them are an agreement on issues of jurisdiction and legal assistance in cases related to temporary presence of forces and means of collective security system on the territories of CSTO member-states, a plan of events to mark the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Collective Security Treaty and the 20th anniversary of the CSTO.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS