CSTO will supply weapons and equipment to Tajikistan

Member countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) plan to begin supplying weapons and military equipment to Tajikistan by the end of 2026.

According to the CSTO Secretary General, by the end of 2026, four member countries of the organization will send weapons and equipment to strengthen the Tajik-Afghan border.

According to the CSTO press service, Secretary General Taalatbek Masadykov stated at a press conference on October 21 that the first batch of weapons and military equipment will be sent to Tajikistan from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia.

The organization’s statement notes that Tajikistan, as a member of the organization, has approved all suppliers and the financing of orders. However, there is no information on the volume, quantity, and cost of the weapons.

Masadykov also noted at the previous CSTO meeting on October 16 that work is ongoing to prepare a list of weapons, military equipment, and supplies for border protection. The main decisions have already been agreed upon and approved, and preparations for their implementation are currently underway.

At the same time, it is unclear which country will cover the costs of the supplies and what portion of the weapons and equipment will be provided free of charge and which under other conditions.

Tajikistan, as a CSTO member, is the coordinator of the border strengthening program. The program was approved by the Collective Security Council of the organization on October 28, 2024, in Astana. The CSTO officially stated that supplies are planned for 2026-2027, with the final phase scheduled for completion by 2029.

Regional politicians warn of a possible invasion of militants from Afghanistan into Central Asian countries. As reported by the media, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated at the CSTO meeting on October 16 that extremist groups are attempting to move from Afghanistan into the region’s countries.

According to him, terrorist and extremist groups remain active in the border areas of Afghanistan with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, and they have military and training bases. The main threat, according to Lavrov, comes from cells of the “Islamic State” “ISIS-Khorasan.” However, the Taliban claims that this group has been eliminated in Afghanistan.

It is worth noting that the length of the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border is approximately 1,400 kilometers.