Militants in Afghanistan may infiltrate neighboring countries – Russian Defense Minister

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov has warned that the main threat facing Central Asia is the potential infiltration of radical armed groups operating in Afghanistan into neighboring countries. He made this statement on May 28 during a meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

According to Belousov, more than 20 such groups are currently active in Afghanistan, comprising over 15,000 militants.

“Radical groups may infiltrate neighboring countries, and the risk of infiltration is increasing. Instability in the Middle East is also negatively impacting the region. Foreign militants involved in armed conflicts in that area are now spreading not only to Afghanistan but also to other Central Asian countries,” Belousov stated.

In a separate development, Belousov met with Kyrgyz Defense Minister Ruslan Mukambetov in Bishkek. During their talks, the Russian minister emphasized that regional threats are intensifying and that Russia and Kyrgyzstan must respond to them jointly and effectively. He also highlighted that the two countries are bound not only by an alliance but also by a shared history.

It is worth noting that on April 17 of this year, the Supreme Court of Russia upheld the administrative claim by the Prosecutor General to temporarily suspend the ban on the activities of the Taliban movement in Russia. This ruling was the first decision made under a new legal provision that came into force in December 2024, which allows for the temporary suspension of bans on organizations designated as terrorist entities.

                                                                             Hasanboy Ikromboyev