Leaders reach agreement on Afghan threat

In an effort to counter the spread of Islamic fundamentalism in the region and, citing growing concern for Afghanistan’s military successes, Kazakhstan, Kygyzstan, Tajikistan, Belarus, Armenia and Russia agreed to pool their military might against insurgencies in volatile Central Asia during meetings in Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday. Accusing the Taliban of backing Islamic militants challenging the secular governments in the region, the Collective Security Council of the Commonwealth of Independent States, a loose grouping of former Soviet republics, described Afghanistan as a “centre of international terrorism and drug smuggling,” and a clear threat to Central Asian stability, AFP reported on Thursday. In a joint statement on Wednesday, the six leaders said: “Any attempts to violate the territorial integrity of Central Asian nations would be resolutely stopped by our joint efforts.”