Two Central Asian States to Boost Joint Counterterrorism Efforts

Two Central Asian States Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are expected to sign on Friday joint counterrorism deal. Moreover, it will also touches upon the issue of organized crime, extremism and drug trafficking, the press service of the Kyrgyz Interior Ministry said in a statement.

BISHKEK (Sputnik) — The heads of law enforcement agencies of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are expected to sign on Friday a protocol on joint measures to combat transnational organized crime, terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking, the press service of the Kyrgyz Interior Ministry said in a statement.

Later in the day, the first meeting of the joint Board of Tajik and Kyrgyz foreign ministries is due to start in the Tajik city of Gulistan. The two-day meeting will also involve the interior ministers of the two countries — Kyrgyzstan's Maj. Gen. Melis Turganbaev, and Tajikistan's Lt. Gen. Ramadan Rahimzoda Hamro.

"At the end of the Board's meeting, a protocol on joint measures to combat transnational organized crime, crimes of extremist and terrorist nature, and drug trafficking, cattle theft, criminal car business is expected to be signed," the ministry's statement read.

According to the statement, the law enforcement agencies also plan to strengthen cooperation in combating human trafficking, undocumented migration and to ensure the security of the residents living in the border areas.

The ministers will also discuss the prospects of cooperation between the two countries in the new conditions, which appeared due to Kyrgyzstan being a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).

The EEU, comprising Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, is an international organization that encourages regional economic integration through the free movement of goods, services, and people within the union.