MOSCOE – Russia is “very preoccupied” by the increasing presence andinfluence of militant Islamic State (IS) fighters in Afghanistan, theRussian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.
“We are very preoccupied by what is happening in Afghanistan and by theexpansion of IS influence,” Lavrov said during a press conference in Moscowwith his Pakistan counterpart Khawaja Muhammad Asif.
According to Lavrov, the presence of IS in the north and east ofAfghanistan is “serious” and “already amounts to a thousand people.” Moscowis especially concerned, he said, about the security threat this createsfor neighbouring former Soviet republics and to Russia.
“This is right on the borders of our Central Asian neighbours. It increasesthe risk of terrorists entering Central Asia, from where it’s not difficultfor them to get to Russia, and further,” Lavrov said.
IS and the Taliban have staged several attacks in Afghanistan in recentweeks, including one on a luxury hotel in Kabul on January 20.
Russia has repeatedly criticised Washington’s strategy in Afghanistan,calling on the Taliban to be included in peace negotiations with the Afghangovernment. – AFP/APP