Intelligence officials from 20 countries met in Baku, Azerbaijan, for a critical conference on “Afghanistan: Regional Connectivity, Security, and Development.” The event, hosted by Azerbaijan’s State Security Service (SSS), focused on the alarming security challenges and growing instability in Afghanistan.
Colonel-General Ali Naghiyev, head of Azerbaijan’s SSS, opened the conference by stressing the urgent need for comprehensive international support to address Afghanistan’s deteriorating situation. He warned that Afghanistan’s failure to establish a stable, centralized government under international law continues to threaten regional peace and security.
Naghiyev pointed out the long-standing relationship between Azerbaijan and Afghanistan, rooted in mutual trust, but also acknowledged that despite these ties, Afghanistan remains deeply plagued by internal political instability and persistent security threats. He highlighted that Azerbaijan has consistently supported global efforts to stabilize Afghanistan, but the country’s inability to combat transnational organized crime—particularly terrorism, drug trafficking, and illegal migration—remains a critical concern.
The conference underscored the urgent need for a unified international response to counteract the destructive influence of terrorist and sabotage groups that continue to destabilize Afghanistan. Naghiyev reaffirmed the importance of Afghanistan’s integration into the international system but stressed that peace can only be achieved through coordinated, sustained efforts from the international community.
Other intelligence officials at the event also expressed deep concern over Afghanistan’s inability to maintain internal security and prevent the continued escalation of violence, emphasizing that it remains a significant source of instability in the region.
