News Desk
MOSCOW: Russia has expressed renewed concern over what it described as a widening and increasingly sophisticated terrorist threat in Afghanistan, warning that armed groups operating in the country were not only persisting but also enhancing their operational capabilities through access to modern technologies.
A senior official from the Russian foreign ministry raised the alarm while addressing the 19th meeting of Central Asian states, where regional security dominated discussions among participating delegations. According to Russia’s state news agency, the official said more than 20 terrorist groups remained active across Afghanistan, with estimates suggesting that the number of affiliated fighters had exceeded 23,000.
The official warned that these groups were no longer relying solely on traditional insurgent methods, but were instead beginning to integrate advanced tools, including artificial intelligence systems and satellite-based communications, into their operations. He argued that such developments had significantly altered the scale and complexity of the threat landscape, posing heightened risks not only within Afghanistan but also across its neighbouring regions.
He further alleged that terrorist networks continued to sustain themselves through entrenched criminal economies, including drug trafficking and illicit arms trade, which provided them with the financial resources needed to maintain and expand their activities.
Moscow has repeatedly voiced concerns about the presence of extremist organisations in Afghanistan, particularly in the wake of shifting security dynamics following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Russian officials have consistently argued that instability in Afghanistan carries wider regional implications, especially for Central Asia, where border security and the risk of cross-border infiltration remain sensitive issues.
The remarks underscored Moscow’s continuing call for greater regional coordination on security matters, as Central Asian states grapple with the prospect of emerging hybrid threats that combine insurgency, organised crime and digital capability in an increasingly volatile environment.
