By Catherine Putz
The group called for forming a broad coalition “without politicizing and preconditions.”
At a gathering in Moscow, the presidents of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member countries laid out the group’s top priorities. In a surprise to none, combating the Islamic State and other extremist groups topped the list. The regional military alliance includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan.
The group of leaders last gathered in September in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, where they focused the discussion on the Islamic State and fragility in Afghanistan. The insecurity in Afghanistan is often linked by Central Asian governments to an impending threat from the Islamic State. Of the CSTO members, however, only Tajikistan borders Afghanistan.
A joint statement from the group Monday said, “We see as a priority task the decisive fight against the ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant — former name of IS) terrorist group that has unleashed cruel bloodshed in many countries and presents a threat to the entire humanity.” The statement went on to note “the growth of security threats in Central Asia connected with activities of ISIL, the Taliban movement, Al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations on the territory of Afghanistan which leads to escalation of tensions on CSTO’s southern borders, directly threatening with destabilization of the situation in the area of its (CSTO’s) responsibility.”
Read the full story at The Diplomat