MOSCOW – Russian defence minister warns of growing foothold of Daesh inAfghanistan, threats to Central Asia and Pakistan
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has said that Daesh is gainingfoothold in Afghanistan to expand into the Central Asia, Russian newsagency TASS reported.
Shoigu said Daesh is strengthening its positions in Afghanistan, using thatcountry as a bridgehead for further expansion in the region.
“It is important to note that after the rout of the so-called IslamicState, terrorists are moving from Syria and Iraq to other regions,including Central and Southeast Asia,” Shoigu said at a meeting of thedefense ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) memberstates in Bishkek.
“As a result, cross-border crime is growing, a breeding ground is emergingfor extremist and separatist movements and terrorist cells are coming intoexistence. The most complex situation is developing in Afghanistan,” hesaid. “The US presence in that country for many years has not solvedexisting problems.”
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Shoigu said “special concern is caused by the strengthening of thepositions of Daesh, which is using the country as a bridgehead for furtherexpansion into the region”.
In this situation, it is important jointly to fight the terrorist threatemanating from that country, counter the production and transit of narcoticdrugs, render assistance to Afghanistan in national reconciliation andeconomic revival, he s
