Against the backdrop of the situation in Afghanistan, Russia is increasing the combat readiness of its military bases in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. The Defense Minister of Russia, Sergei Shoigu, announced it in Tashkent (Uzbekistan), RIA Novosti reports.
According to him, the state of affairs in Afghanistan remains a serious challenge to security in Central Asia, where international terrorist organizations such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda are becoming more active.
«For our part, we are increasing the combat readiness of Russian military bases in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, as well as other forces to respond to possible crisis situations,» Shoigu said at a meeting of the heads of military departments of the SCO countries.
He also noted that, against the background of the ongoing armed confrontation, the social and economic situation is deteriorating in Afghanistan, the ideology of religious radicalism is being implanted, drug trafficking and cross-border crime are flourishing. Under these conditions, Russia, he stressed, welcomes any international initiatives for an Afghan settlement and, at the same time, takes measures to ensure security in the Central Asian region.
Sergei Shoigu recalled that in June Moscow hosted the first meeting of the heads of defense departments of Central Asian countries and Russia, during which the situation in the Afghan direction and ways to stabilize it were considered.
«We believe that such meetings will be in demand on the SCO platform, including to strengthen coordination between our law enforcement agencies. Moreover, Afghanistan is an observer state at the SCO,» Sergei Shoigu concluded.
