Russia has expressed serious concern over the growing presence of terrorist organizations in Afghanistan, claiming that between 18,000 and 23,000 militants are currently active in the country. Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu stated that the extremist elements operating in Afghanistan belong to more than 20 different terrorist groups that are freely active across various regions of the country.
According to Russian officials, the current situation in Afghanistan has become a major security challenge not only for regional peace and stability but also for member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Sergei Shoigu said that threats related to terrorism, extremism, and drug trafficking from Afghanistan are continuously increasing, causing concern among regional countries. The Russian official added that the presence of terrorist groups has also become an issue of concern for the international community.
Sergei Shoigu emphasized that member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization need to closely monitor the situation in Afghanistan and adopt a joint strategy to effectively counter terrorism and drug smuggling.