RASC News Agency: Andrey Belousov, Russia’s Defense Minister, recently declared that Afghanistan, under Taliban rule, has become the principal source of “instability” for Central Asian countries. According to TASS News Agency, Belousov made these remarks on Friday, May 31, during a meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) defense ministers in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
He asserted that terrorist groups have established a foothold in Afghanistan under Taliban control, necessitating heightened measures, including the reinforcement of the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border. He added, “In the Central Asian region, the situation in Afghanistan is the main source of instability. Numerous radical groups have entrenched themselves there and are intensifying efforts to spread their ideologies to neighboring countries.”
Belousov believes there is a significant risk of terrorist groups extending from Afghanistan into Central Asia, prompting the need for enhanced security measures to ensure regional stability. The Russian official’s comments come amid growing concerns from various countries, especially CSTO members, about the rising threat of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan soil since the Taliban’s takeover.
