CSTO develops measures of response to possible crisis that could be caused by situation in Afghanistan

MOSCOW. Oct 1 (Interfax) - The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has drawn up proposals on settling the possible crisis that could be caused by the situation in Afghanistan, CSTO press secretary Vladimir Zainetdinov told journalists on Friday.

"The CSTO crisis center is hosting the final phase of a joint business game of the secretariat, the joint staff, and the national bodies of the CSTO member states to prepare proposals to normalize the situation in the Central Asian region in the wake of the situation in Afghanistan under the general management of the CSTO secretary general," Zainetdinov said.

According to the business game's scenario, the preconditions for a crisis build up in an imaginary CSTO member state amid the situation in Afghanistan, and the CSTO develops political and diplomatic measures to respond to it and provide humanitarian aid to that country.

However, as the crisis "continues to worsen" and might threaten the security, stability, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of the imaginary state, its president requests military and military-technical assistance from the CSTO, Zainetdinov said.

"The participants in the game implemented the Collective Security Council's decisions on providing military and military-technical assistance, including by involving the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Forces and their special taskforces. According to the game's scenario, the Collective Rapid Reaction Forces were to be sent to the imaginary Central Asian country to carry out their duties as intended," he said.

The CSTO comprises Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan.

In the wake of the withdrawal of United States and NATO troops from Afghanistan, the Taliban in August took control of virtually all provinces, including the country's capital of Kabul on August 15. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and members of his Cabinet fled the country.

The Taliban is a terrorist organization banned in Russia.