Escalating Presence of Terrorist Groups on Afghanistan-Tajikistan Border Raises Concerns

Andriy Serdyukov, a senior military official from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), has reported a surge in the presence of ISIS and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants near the border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

Serdyukov highlighted the significant threat posed by international terrorist and extremist groups, citing ISIS and Al-Qaeda as examples, to the stability of Central Asian nations.

The CSTO military official further stated, “We have observed a rise in the number of ISIS and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Taliban fighters near Tajikistan’s southern borders.”

Expressing ongoing concerns, Serdyukov emphasized the potential establishment of terrorist training camps in Afghanistan, particularly in its northern regions, alongside an expansion of foreign fighter presence.

He cautioned that the influx of refugees and the Taliban’s repression of ethnic and religious minorities are likely to exacerbate the situation, heightening tensions in the region.