DUSHANBE, May 28, 2013, Asia-Plus -- Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Kyrgyzstan''s capital, Bishkek, today to attend an informal summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

On the sidelines of the summit, Putin is expected  to hold separate bilateral meetings with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev, Yury Ushakov, an aide to the Russian president, told reporters.

According to him, the summit is expected to discuss the developing situation in Afghanistan as U.S.-led international forces prepare to withdraw in 2014.

As it had been reported earlier, Kyrgyz President Atambayev said on May 27 that he and Rahmon planned to propose at the summit the construction of a railroad that would connect Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, before moving on to Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and the Persian Gulf.