A representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry has stated that the Taliban in Afghanistan are still creating conditions that allow certain terrorist groups to continue their activities.
The state news agency TASS reported on Tuesday, 19 Jowza (June 8), that Pyotr Ilyichev, Director of the Department for New Challenges and Threats at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that there are currently around 20 terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan, with an estimated strength of between 20,000 and 23,000 members.
According to him, Afghanistan’s security situation remains critical, and the country poses a serious security threat, particularly to its neighboring states.
Pyotr Ilyichev made these remarks during the 19th meeting of the heads of counterterrorism agencies of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) member countries.
The Russian official also warned about terrorist groups gaining access to modern technologies, stating that the use of commercial satellite communication systems and attempts to exploit artificial intelligence are creating new security concerns.
He further expressed concern about the risk of cross-border attacks and the organized efforts of these groups to recruit and radicalize vulnerable populations in neighboring countries.
According to him, strengthening ties between terrorist groups and organized crime networks is another major security challenge. He added that these groups finance a significant portion of their activities through drug trafficking, illegal arms trade, trafficking of precious stones and metals, as well as wildlife smuggling.
Taliban authorities have repeatedly stated that they do not allow any terrorist group to operate from Afghan territory and that Afghanistan will not be used against any other country.
However, various reports from the United Nations and regional intelligence agencies continue to point to the presence and activity of groups such as ISIS-Khorasan and other armed organizations in Afghanistan.
Russia, in various regional forums including the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Commonwealth of Independent States, and the Moscow Format, has repeatedly emphasized the need to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for terrorist groups, and has proposed measures to strengthen the security of the southern borders of Central Asian countries.
Meanwhile, Russia and the Taliban recently signed a military-technical cooperation agreement. The agreement was signed on 6 Jowza on the sidelines of the Moscow International Security Conference, in the presence of Sergey Shoygu, Secretary of the Russian Security Council, and Mullah Yaqoob Mujahid, the Taliban’s Minister of Defense.
During his visit to Moscow, Mullah Yaqoob Mujahid stated: “Cooperation with Russia is of great importance to us. Afghanistan and Russia have long-standing historical relations, and we seek to expand these ties.”
The Taliban Defense Minister also met and held talks with the Secretary of the Russian Security Council during the visit in Moscow.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
