KABUL (Dispatches) -- 
Russia and Central Asian leaders will meet in Tajikistan to discuss regional security, with Afghanistan’s worsening situation expected to dominate the summit agenda.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to Tajikistan on Thursday for a high-level summit with Central Asian leaders to discuss regional cooperation and security, with Afghanistan expected to feature prominently on the agenda, the Kremlin said.
The meeting, the second Russia–Central Asia Summit, will bring together the presidents of Russia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. 
The talks will be held in Dushanbe and are aimed at strengthening multilateral ties and coordinating efforts on trade, energy, and counterterrorism.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters in Moscow that discussions would focus on expanding cooperation in areas including commerce, investment, logistics, and industry. 
“Given the situation in Afghanistan and the Middle East, special attention will be paid to ensuring regional security,” Ushakov said.
Russia’s ambassador to Tajikistan, Semyon Grigoryev, said Putin would also hold separate talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon to discuss the security situation in Afghanistan. 
Grigoryev noted that Moscow and Dushanbe maintain close coordination both bilaterally and within regional frameworks such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu recently warned that more than 23,000 fighters from international terrorist groups are now present in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, calling the situation “a serious threat to regional and global security.”
The Dushanbe summit comes amid Moscow’s efforts to reaffirm its influence in Central Asia as security concerns grow along Afghanistan’s northern frontier. Leaders are also expected to sign several agreements on trade, transport, and defense cooperation.
Analysts say the summit underscores Russia’s bid to consolidate regional partnerships amid geopolitical uncertainty. The focus on Afghanistan, and the risks of cross-border militancy, is likely to dominate the talks as Central Asian nations seek assurances on security and stability.