No plans to deploy CSTO troops in Afghanistan

The Collective Security Treaty Organization pursues a defensive policy and does not intend to deploy troops in Afghanistan. Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Stanislav Zas made the statement on the air of the TV channel Mir 24, BelTA has learned.

When asked whether the Collective Security Treaty Organization is going to insert troops in Afghanistan, the official said: “Those are absolutely groundless fears. The Collective Security Treaty Organization is a purely defensive military and political organization. It can use the collective defensive forces only within the organization’s responsibility area.”

The Taliban movement launched a massive campaign to assert control over Afghanistan after the USA declared its intention to withdraw troops from the country. On 15 August Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani retired and left the country while Talibs entered Kabul without fighting. A resistance movement led by Ahmad Massoud was organized in Panjshir Province by forces opposed to the rule of the radicals. The former vice president Amrullah Saleh urged to support the resistance movement and declared himself acting president. Western countries are busy evacuating their citizens and embassy personnel from Afghanistan.