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Moscow will work more closely with  members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) as the withdraw of U.S. forces from Afghanistan raises regional security risks, Russia’s defence minister, according to Reuters report. 

The U.S. exit from Afghanistan has created a security headache for Moscow, which sees former Soviet Central Asia as part of its southern defensive flank and fears the spread of radical Islam.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Moscow had stepped up contacts within CSTO, a Moscow-led alliance that groups six former Soviet states. “We’re in close contact with CSTO members over Afghanistan ... That’s why our interaction within CSTO should be strengthened,” Shoigu was quoted as saying by the RIA news agency.

He said the risk of Afghan militants crossing into neighbouring countries had spread following the Taliban’s rapid takeover of the country this month as U.S. forces withdrew.