Main Threat to SCO Member States Originates from Afghanistan, Says Russian Minister
Sergei Shoigu, the Russian Defence Minister, stated that the primary threat against member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) originates from Afghanistan.
He mentioned that international terrorist groups take refuge in Afghanistan due to the unstable and ambiguous political situation in the country.
Speaking on Friday at the defence ministers' meeting of the SCO in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, he criticised the United States’ efforts to regain power in Central and South Asia after withdrawing from Afghanistan.
The presence and establishment of extremist groups in Afghanistan and the increase in attacks by these groups, especially ISIS, have created serious security concerns for the Central Asian countries.
The Russian defence minister regarded the establishment of US military infrastructure in the region as a direct threat to the stability of the SCO.
He emphasised that these objectives should be recognised as direct threats to the organisation's stability.
According to him, the United States is attempting to impose a new security system in the Asia-Pacific region.
Shoigu, in his address, urged participants to safeguard the stability of the organisation against "destructive external influences”.
He specifically referred to the efforts of "colour revolutions" and advocated for the establishment of a system where the security of all Eurasian countries is equally assured.
