MOSCOW, November 28. /TASS/. Afghanistan-based terrorist groups represent a serious threat to the security of members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), CSTO foreign ministers stated in a statement.

"We are seriously concerned about the situation in the security sphere in the context of the terrorist threat in Afghanistan, noting that Afghanistan-based terrorist groups are a serious threat to the security of CSTO member states," the statement reads.

The top CSTO diplomats noted the significance of shaping an inclusive Afghan government that will represent the interests of all social and ethnic groups, implement its obligations to ensure basic human rights and freedoms, including those of women and girls, particularly regarding access to work and education. "We are concerned about continued ethnic and religious persecution in Afghanistan," they noted.

"We consider it essential to expand regional coordination in the counter-terrorism and anti-drug efforts. Due to this, we are calling on Afghanistan’s de facto authorities to direct their efforts toward the war on terror and drugs," the statement said. "We are concerned about the current drug problem in Afghanistan despite measures taken by local authorities. We emphasize the importance of continued coordinated efforts to fight the spread of drug trafficking to other countries," the diplomats said.

Additionally, the CSTO foreign ministers supported continued efforts by the international community to provide aid to the Afghan people, including relieving them of the burden of unilateral sanctions, and noted that Afghanistan’s development of economic interconnections and integration into regional economic systems will facilitate the strengthening of peace and stability.