Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 15 October, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, speaking at a meeting of the Council of CIS Heads of States, stressed the need to strengthen cooperation in protecting the external borders of the Commonwealth, increasing the combat effectiveness of the armed forces, as well as interaction between border and other special services.

There is no doubt that such a proposal by the leader of Uzbekistan was formulated on the basis of a deep and comprehensive analysis of the current situation on the southern borders of the CIS.

The military-political situation that is taking shape today in and around Afghanistan remains extremely contradictory and ambiguous. The protracted process of political transformations and the difficult socio-economic situation in the country create conditions for the growth of threats of terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, cross-border organized crime, and the risks of border armed conflicts are increasing.

Many experts state the continued high probability of concentration and intensification of terrorist activity in the country, predict a possible humanitarian catastrophe, an increase in migration flows and refugees.

In such difficult conditions, when joint and coordinated efforts are required, the role of interstate associations increases. As the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized in his speech, "today the CIS is a demanded and effective platform with a special consolidating role in promoting our common interests."

It is the common interests that today demand the strengthening of the military and anti-terrorist potential on the southern borders of the Commonwealth.

In this context, it should be emphasized separately that, along with the political, economic, humanitarian components of the interaction of the CIS countries, cooperation in the field of security remains the most important basis for the stable and harmonious development of the Commonwealth, a subject of constant attention from the leadership of the participating countries.

As Sergei Lebedev, Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee noted in an interview, “in recent years, the problem of ensuring security and stability in the CIS space has come to the fore. Just ten years ago, it was in third place, after the economy and the humanitarian sphere. "

Uzbekistan, actively participating in the activities of the Organization, on an equal basis with other member states, determines a further strategy for the development of mutually beneficial cooperation within the framework of the association, including in the field of security.

Under the chairmanship of our country in the association, such important documents as the Concept of Military Cooperation of the CIS Member States until 2025 and the Program of Cooperation of the CIS Member States in Strengthening Border Security at External Borders for 2021-2025 were adopted.

Undoubtedly, the responsible implementation of data and other documents in the field of security will increase the effectiveness of measures taken to ensure the inviolability of the southern borders of the Commonwealth.

A large role in this is assigned to the sectoral bodies of the Commonwealth in the field of security and defense: the councils of the ministers of defense, internal affairs, security agencies and special services, commanders of border troops, the CIS Anti-Terrorist Center and others. It is worth emphasizing here that out of more than 60 sectoral bodies of the Commonwealth, 20 function in the field of security.

In their activities, it is relevant today to strengthen interaction between the special services, defense and border departments, through the exchange of operational information, conducting joint exercises on the border, training military personnel, and expanding cooperation in the military-technical field.

It is extremely important to constantly monitor the situation on the border with Afghanistan, promptly exchange significant information, and establish coordinated work of special services and law enforcement agencies. Carry out joint preventive, operational-search measures and special operations on a regular basis.

Military exercises on various aspects of security should be carried out directly at the border. In the course of maneuvers based on modeling various options for the development of the situation, military command and control bodies and military formations of power structures should exchange practical experience in countering terrorism, as well as increase the level of coherence and consistency in the preparation and conduct of joint hostilities with the armed formations of international terrorist organizations.

At the same time, a high-quality solution to common problems in the field of security requires the continuation and expansion of the practice of cooperation in the field of training, retraining and advanced training of personnel, as well as scientific support for the activities of all interested state bodies andservices.

In general, in the context of the growing conflict potential in the world and the region, and the continuing high level of terrorist threat, security issues remain a priority in the activities of the CIS. At the same time, the main directions will be the preservation and strengthening of military and military-technical cooperation to ensure peace and the maintenance of international stability, the further development of interaction in the field of ensuring border security, countering terrorist and extremist activities, as well as organized crime.

Shukhrat Shaimulin,

Chief Researcher, Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies

under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan