This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/russia/528704-csto-tajikistan-afghanistan-taliban/
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| There’s no doubt Tajikistan will repel possible Taliban incursion – Collective Security Treaty Organization’s top chief of staff | There’s no doubt Tajikistan will repel possible Taliban incursion – Collective Security Treaty Organization’s top chief of staff |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Tajikistan will repel a possible Taliban intrusion from neighboring Afghanistan, and Russian troops will help if necessary, a top military official from the Eurasian regional defense bloc CSTO has told RT. | Tajikistan will repel a possible Taliban intrusion from neighboring Afghanistan, and Russian troops will help if necessary, a top military official from the Eurasian regional defense bloc CSTO has told RT. |
| The Taliban has set up observation posts and checkpoints after having largely overrun the areas adjacent to the Afghan-Tajik border, the Collective Security Treaty Organization’s (CSTO) Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Colonel Anatoly Sidorov told RT. | The Taliban has set up observation posts and checkpoints after having largely overrun the areas adjacent to the Afghan-Tajik border, the Collective Security Treaty Organization’s (CSTO) Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Colonel Anatoly Sidorov told RT. |
| “We’ve seen the Taliban's outposts. At least for now, we see no aggression coming from [them],” Sidorov said. “They are not hiding at all. It appears the situation is fairly peaceful on the [Afghan] side.” | “We’ve seen the Taliban's outposts. At least for now, we see no aggression coming from [them],” Sidorov said. “They are not hiding at all. It appears the situation is fairly peaceful on the [Afghan] side.” |
| Sidorov said he is confident that Tajikistan is capable of repelling a possible Taliban incursion. “There is no doubt that Tajik border and military personnel will handle the situation,” he said. | Sidorov said he is confident that Tajikistan is capable of repelling a possible Taliban incursion. “There is no doubt that Tajik border and military personnel will handle the situation,” he said. |
| “Despite the extremely rough terrain and climate, it’s rather difficult to muster a group that can pose a threat to Tajikistan’s territorial integrity,” Sidorov explained. | “Despite the extremely rough terrain and climate, it’s rather difficult to muster a group that can pose a threat to Tajikistan’s territorial integrity,” Sidorov explained. |
| The official added that Russian troops stationed in Tajikistan and the CSTO rapid response force are ready to help Dushanbe if necessary. | The official added that Russian troops stationed in Tajikistan and the CSTO rapid response force are ready to help Dushanbe if necessary. |
| “We have to keep our powder dry,” he said, adding that during regular drills, CSTO member states had practiced deploying additional forces along the Afghan border. | “We have to keep our powder dry,” he said, adding that during regular drills, CSTO member states had practiced deploying additional forces along the Afghan border. |
| A defense and security bloc founded in 1992, the CSTO consists of Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. | A defense and security bloc founded in 1992, the CSTO consists of Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. |
| The Tajik envoy to the CSTO, Khasan Sultonov, said on Wednesday that around 1,500 Afghan government army servicemen crossed the Tajik border while fleeing from a Taliban offensive over the last two weeks. Sultonov asked the CSTO to assist his nation in securing the border. | The Tajik envoy to the CSTO, Khasan Sultonov, said on Wednesday that around 1,500 Afghan government army servicemen crossed the Tajik border while fleeing from a Taliban offensive over the last two weeks. Sultonov asked the CSTO to assist his nation in securing the border. |
| Tajik President Emomali Rahmon earlier ordered the mobilization of 20,000 reservists. | Tajik President Emomali Rahmon earlier ordered the mobilization of 20,000 reservists. |
| A delegation from the Taliban’s political wing met with Russian officials in Moscow on Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed. Taliban negotiator Mohammad Suhail Shaheen told news agency TASS that the militants will not attack Tajikistan. | A delegation from the Taliban’s political wing met with Russian officials in Moscow on Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed. Taliban negotiator Mohammad Suhail Shaheen told news agency TASS that the militants will not attack Tajikistan. |
| Shaheen wrote on social media that the Taliban will not allow anyone to use the soil of Afghanistan against any other country, nor will it tolerate the intervention of others. | |
| The militants have been gaining ground in Afghanistan in recent weeks amid the looming complete withdrawal of US forces. President Joe Biden initially said that American troops would leave the country by September 11, but on Thursday he announced that the US military mission will come to an end by August 31. | The militants have been gaining ground in Afghanistan in recent weeks amid the looming complete withdrawal of US forces. President Joe Biden initially said that American troops would leave the country by September 11, but on Thursday he announced that the US military mission will come to an end by August 31. |
| “We did not go to Afghanistan to nation build,” Biden said, adding that it is up to the Afghan people to determine the future of the country. | “We did not go to Afghanistan to nation build,” Biden said, adding that it is up to the Afghan people to determine the future of the country. |
| The US has been leading a NATO force fighting the Taliban and other militants in Afghanistan since 2001. Along with combat operations, the allies provide training to Afghan security forces. | The US has been leading a NATO force fighting the Taliban and other militants in Afghanistan since 2001. Along with combat operations, the allies provide training to Afghan security forces. |
| Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! | Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! |