The fourth round of multilateral consultations of secretaries of security councils on the Afghan issue will be held on Friday in the capital of Tajikistan. Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev will take part in it.
The press service of the Security Council of the Russian Federation said that the meeting was to discuss "the development of the situation in Afghanistan and also the challenges and threats to the states of the region coming from the Afghan territory".
The day before Patrushev arrived in Tajikistan, where on May 26-27 he had a series of bilateral negotiations planned.
On arrival in Dushanbe, Patrushev had a working meeting with his counterpart from Tajikistan Nasrullo Mahmudzoda. The secretaries of the Security Council exchanged views on urgent security issues, noted the dynamics of development of Russian-Tajik ties and confirmed their interest in deepening allied relations.
On the same day, Patrushev held talks with Ajit Doval, National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister of India.
Previous meeting on Afghanistan
The previous meeting of the secretaries of the Security Council on Afghanistan was held in New Delhi last November. The parties discussed the situation in Afghanistan, especially the security situation, as well as its implications for the region and the world. The two sides emphasized, among other things, the threats of terrorism, radicalization and drug trafficking, as well as the need for humanitarian aid to the country.
The national security advisers and secretaries of the security councils then reiterated "strong support for a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan, while stressing respect for its sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, as well as non-interference in its internal affairs."
During the event, Patrushev noted that the multilateral meetings of secretaries of security councils on Afghan issues were an important format, which made it possible to discuss the whole range of problems at the highest level and work out practical measures for counteracting challenges and threats emanating from the territory of Afghanistan. He expressed the hope that the practice of such consultations would be continued in the future, including by adding other relevant regional issues to the agenda.
Previous such meetings were organized by Iran in 2018 and 2019.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS