Countering international terrorism and extremism against the backdrop of global and regional terrorist threats emanating from the territory of Afghanistan, as well as in the regions of the Middle East and North Africa, were discussed by the official representatives of Turkmenistan and Russia, Russian MFA reports.
Their meeting took place in Moscow, where the deputy foreign ministers of Turkmenistan Vepa Khadzhiev and Russia Oleg Syromolotov discussed ways of cooperation in the fight against international terrorism, Khronikatm reports.
The parties discussed the possibility of joining efforts in curbing the activities of foreign terrorist fighters, countering the financing of terrorism and combating the illegal distribution of drugs, the Russian MFA said in a statement.
The role of the joint efforts of the member states of the CIS, the CSTO and the SCO in countering the challenges and threats to security in the Central Asian region was noted, the report says. At the same time, Turkmenistan is not a full member of any of these organizations.
Both diplomats were previously members of the intelligence services of their countries.
The coming to power of the Taliban contributed to an increase in drug trafficking through the countries of Central Asia to Russia and Europe. This is stated in the publication of the Observer Research Foundation.
In particular, the head of the Drug Control Agency of Tajikistan stated that the volume of heroin smuggled through the country in 2021 almost doubled – from 2.3 to 4 tons.
It is noted that the so-called “Balkan route” passes through Turkmenistan, through which opiates from Afghanistan enter Europe.
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Oct. 31, 2022