MOSCOW: Russia has issued a fresh warning over the presence of international and regional terrorist organizations in Afghanistan, echoing Pakistan’s long-standing concerns about militant safe havens operating from Afghan territory.
According to media reports, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has once again endorsed Pakistan’s position regarding the continued presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan.
Speaking at the 19th Meeting of Central Asian States, Pyotr Ilyichev, Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said that the presence of terrorist organizations in Afghanistan has become a serious threat to the region, particularly to neighboring countries.
As reported by Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, Ilyichev stated that more than 20 terrorist groups remain active in Afghanistan. He noted that the number of militants affiliated with these organizations has surpassed 23,000, posing significant security challenges to regional stability.
The Russian official further warned that terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan continue to generate substantial financial resources through narcotics trafficking and the illegal arms trade, enabling them to sustain and expand their activities.
Security experts say the Russian Foreign Ministry’s statement reinforces Pakistan’s long-held assertion that a fully functional “narco-terror nexus” continues to operate inside Afghanistan. Islamabad has repeatedly expressed concerns that terrorist groups based in Afghanistan are exploiting drug trafficking networks and illicit weapons markets to finance militant operations across the region.
Analysts believe the latest Russian warning highlights growing international concern over the security implications of terrorism, organized crime, and cross-border militancy emanating from Afghanistan, particularly for Central Asian states and neighboring countries.
