RASC News Agency: Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, in his latest remarks, stated that the main threat to member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization originates from Afghanistan under Taliban control. The Russian Defense Minister made these comments on Friday, April 26, during a meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization defense ministers in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.
He added that Taliban-controlled Afghanistan is considered a haven for “international terrorist groups” due to its unstable political environment. The Russian Defense Minister also mentioned the establishment of U.S. military infrastructure in the region as a direct threat to the stability of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. These comments come amid serious security concerns for Central Asian countries and Afghanistan’s neighbors due to the presence of “terrorist groups,” especially ISIS-Khorasan.
Meanwhile, Taliban Defense Minister Mullah Yaqoob, during a meeting with Malaysian officials in Kabul, stated that ISIS and other groups do not have a physical presence in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Nevertheless, reports indicate that ISIS conducted attacks in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan over the past year and during the past month, causing casualties among civilians and Taliban members.
