Russian FM: ISIS, Al-Qaeda threats persist in Afghanistan

KABUL (Khaama Press): The Russian Foreign Minister says that fully prepared combat groups of ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and their affiliated structures remain in Afghanistan.

The Council of Foreign Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization held its meeting on Friday, June 21, in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The foreign ministers of Russia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Belarus attended this meeting.

Sergei Lavrov warned after a meeting with the foreign ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization: Threats continue to emanate from Afghanistan soil.

According to Sergei Lavrov, there needs to be a more substantive dialogue with the Taliban regarding the fight against terrorism.

TASS, a Russian state news agency, reported on Friday, June 21, that Sergei Lavrov told reporters after the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization in Almaty: We consider it important to assist in the fight against terrorism.

Sergei Lavrov, warning that threats from Afghanistan would continue, said: We support the establishment of a more sustainable, permanent, and substantive dialogue aimed at implementing specific projects with the Taliban, who control Afghanistan.

Imangali Tasmagambetov, the Secretary-General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, also presented a report at this meeting on the regional security situation and its impact on the security of the member countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

The Russian Foreign Minister mentioned the threats from ISIS and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan while Georgiy Grigorievich Machitidze, a researcher at an institute affiliated with the Russian Foreign Ministry, warned in an article about the relations between the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.

Georgiy Grigorievich stated that alongside ISIS Khorasan, Al-Qaeda, under the guardianship of the Taliban, is attracting increasing attention, providing its members with passports, housing, and in some cases, employment.