Taliban Rejects CSTO Border Plan, Says Afghanistan Poses No Threat
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Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghanistan poses no threat to neighboring states and called Central Asian concerns largely unfounded. He was responding to CSTO plans to supply weapons and equipment to Tajikistan to strengthen its border with Afghanistan. The first deliveries are scheduled to begin in autumn 2026 under a five-year program approved in November 2024.
Key Facts
- Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghanistan poses no threat to neighboring states and called Central Asian concerns largely unfounded.
- CSTO Secretary General Taalatbek Masadykov announced that member states have agreed on a list of lethal and non-lethal supplies for Tajikistan, with first deliveries expected in autumn 2026.
- The five-year CSTO program to strengthen the Tajik-Afghan border was approved in November 2024 and runs until 2029.
- Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan are potential suppliers, with Russia playing a key role.
- Tajikistan's border with Afghanistan exceeds 1,300 km, much of it along the Panj River.
Taliban Response
Zabihullah Mujahid, the official spokesman for the Afghan authorities, said Afghanistan poses no threat to neighboring states. He said Afghan security forces control the country's borders and ensure security throughout its territory. Mujahid suggested that some intelligence structures opposed to the current Afghan authorities may be providing the CSTO with unreliable information, creating tension between Kabul and neighboring countries. He also stated that Kabul is ready to directly discuss any security issues with interested states and organizations.
CSTO Supply Program
CSTO Secretary General Taalatbek Masadykov announced the preparation of weapons and equipment supplies to Tajikistan to strengthen its border with Afghanistan. Member states have already agreed on a list of lethal and non-lethal means, with first deliveries to begin in autumn 2026. The supplies are part of a five-year interstate CSTO program approved in November 2024, which includes modernization of border infrastructure, enhanced control, and equipping border troops with modern technology. The program runs until 2029, and potential suppliers include Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan, with Russia playing a key role.
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Taliban Rejects CSTO Border Plan, Says Afghanistan Poses No Threat
