CSTO is Not Planning to Deploy Troops to Afghanistan

The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is conducting a defensive policy and is not planning to deploy troops to Afghanistan. This was stated by the organization's Secretary General Stanislav Zas during an interview on the "Mir-24" television channel, as reported by Armenpress.

“These are absolutely unfounded suspicions. The CSTO is exclusively a defensive military-political organization. It can only apply collective defensive forces within the territory of the CSTO's responsibility,” Zas said in response to questions regarding the organization's potential deployment of troops to Afghanistan.

The Taliban has launched a large-scale operation to establish control over Afghanistan following the U.S. announcement in the spring about withdrawing forces from the country. On August 15, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani resigned and left the country, while the Taliban entered Kabul without a fight. Forces opposed to the radical regime have organized resistance in the Panjshir province, led by Ahmad Massoud. Former Vice President Amrullah Saleh, who has declared himself the acting head of state, has called for support.

Western countries are evacuating their citizens, embassy staff, and Afghan allies. Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed the Russian Defense Ministry to evacuate Russians, citizens of CSTO countries, and Ukrainians, TASS reported.