Andrey Belousov, Russia’s Defense Minister, said yesterday that instability in Afghanistan continues and that the country remains a “primary source of transnational crime and terrorist threats.”
Speaking at a meeting of defense ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Belousov said Russia considers attempts by “non-regional” countries to establish a military presence and carry out logistical operations in Central Asia unacceptable, and expressed deep concern about the situation in Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, and the Gaza Strip.
He noted: “There are risks of militant infiltration from crisis regions into neighboring countries, including the SCO region.”
Although Russia is the only country that has recognized the Taliban, Moscow has consistently expressed concern about the situation in Afghanistan under their rule.
Russia believes that around 20 “terrorist” groups with 20,000 to 23,000 fighters are operating in Afghanistan, with about half of them being foreign nationals.
Moscow has previously praised Taliban efforts to combat terrorism, although it considers them insufficient.
