Sergey Shoygu: Taliban control Afghanistan’s borders with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan

The Taliban movement took control of the Afghan borders with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu said. 

He said that the Taliban promised not to cross borders and not to attack adjacent territories. However, Russia will continue to conduct joint exercises.

“For us, what is important is that the border with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan has also been taken under the control of the Taliban,” Shoygu said at the “Territory of Meanings” youth educational forum. He recalled that the other day the Taliban occupied Kunduz – “a fairly large and serious center”.

The Defense Minister said that Russia will use bases in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to protect the CSTO borders “in the event of direct aggression”. He believes that the CSTO countries need Russian assistance on the Afghan direction. In his opinion, the concern in this case is about the military security of Russia.

The minister said that most of the officers of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan are being trained in Russian universities. “We are also engaged in the modernization of the army of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan,” he added. The head of the Defense Ministry noted that it is important for Russia that Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are ready to repel possible provocations.

Sergey Shoygu recalled that Russia held separate exercises with Uzbekistan, as well as “triple” exercises with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. “We checked how prepared we are for these conditions. We looked at how and what can be applied in these conditions. Of course, we looked at the weak points,” Shoygu said.

The Taliban claim to have captured six provincial capitals in Afghanistan. According to media reports, the Taliban control 65% of the country’s territory.