On October 16, 2026, Moscow hosted the CSTO, CIS and SCO Conference on Security in Central Asia and Afghanistan, held as part of the Russian Federation’s chairmanship of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). CIS Secretary-General Sergey Lebedev took part in the conference. Addressing the forum, he said:
“Today’s conference of the CIS, CSTO and SCO is intended to identify areas in which our joint efforts can give a new impetus to regional development and facilitate Afghanistan’s broader integration into the political and economic life of the Eurasian continent. The changing geopolitical reality clearly demonstrates the fundamental truth: under current conditions, seeking peace and stability alone is futile. No state, however powerful, can independently counter cross-border challenges and threats".
The CIS Secretary-General noted that the Roadmap for Developing Cooperation serves as the foundation for practical interaction among the three organizations, the common goal of which is to create a reliable shield against any destabilization attempts by combining the CIS political and diplomatic tools, the CSTO defence capabilities, and the SCO extensive economic and counterterrorism capacities.
Sergey Lebedev called Central Asia “the heart of Eurasia, a region with enormous untapped potential”. Such factors as the creation of new transport and logistics infrastructure, the development of natural resources and the region’s existing labour potential create highly favorable conditions for accelerating the economic growth in Central Asian countries and their closest partners, based on stability, effective governance, and cooperation.
The CIS Secretary-General added that “the Commonwealth of Independent States believes that a stable, peaceful Afghanistan free of terrorism is not a utopia, but a vital necessity for all countries in the region".
The CIS position on Afghanistan remains pragmatic and consistent. Isolating Kabul would lead to catastrophe and a new cycle of internal and external conflicts, while a solid economic foundation will enable the Afghan people to eliminate the causes and conditions that contributed to the country’s plight. Involving Afghanistan in regional infrastructure and energy projects and developing trade with it, Central Asian countries offer a practical way to redirect our neighbor toward peaceful development.
“At the same time, the security of the Commonwealth southern borders remains an absolute priority. The CIS countries make it clear that any attempts of armed provocation or breaches of their borders will be firmly suppressed,” Sergey Lebedev said. “Our peoples share a common destiny and a common responsibility for the future of our Eurasian home. The 2026 conference should become an important milestone, demonstrating that we remain united, determined and consistent in the face of any threats.”
Read the full information via the link (in Russian).