Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon has emphasised that stability in Afghanistan is a key factor for the security of Tajikistan and the wider region.

He warned that the spread of extremism and terrorism poses a growing threat to Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) member countries.

Rahmon’s message was delivered on his behalf by Yusuf Rahmon, secretary of Tajikistan’s Security Council, during the third CIS conference on combating terrorism and extremism, held on Thursday, 23 October, in Dushanbe.

The Tajik president expressed concern about the spread of terrorist ideologies along CIS borders and called for joint and coordinated measures to counter extremist movements. He urged closer cooperation among intelligence and security agencies of member states to strengthen regional defences.

Rahmon also voiced alarm over the expanding narcotics trade, particularly the trafficking of synthetic drugs, which he said has become one of the main sources of financing for terrorist groups operating across the region.

The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is a regional intergovernmental organisation established after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Its permanent members include Russia, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.

Rahmon’s remarks coincided with the visit of a Taliban delegation to Dushanbe. On the same day, Yousuf Wafa, the Taliban-appointed governor of Balkh province, travelled to Tajikistan and held discussions with Tajik officials on security cooperation and border management.