BISHKEK (TCA) — Islamic State (IS) militants fully control a number of districts in the north of Afghanistan, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters at a press briefing on December 28, TASS reported.
“Of particular concern is the situation in northern Afghanistan where the so-called Afghan branch of the ISIL fully controls some districts and perseveres in its attempts to get a foothold in Afghanistan’s northern regions bordering on the Central Asian states,” Zakharova said.
Earlier this week, President of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbai Jeenbekov warned about the threat of increasing expansion of Islamic State ideology in Central Asian countries.
“The ideology of Islamic State and other such radical groups is increasingly spreading in Central Asia, with active propaganda and recruiting of citizens of our states. I think it will be impossible to ensure collective security, reliable protection of state borders and withstand the present-day challenges and threats without efficient cooperation between the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in the sphere of border security,” TASS news agency quoted Jeenbekov as saying at an informal meeting of the CIS leaders in Moscow on December 26.
Speaking at the same meeting, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon said ensuring security on the southern borders of the CIS (the border with Afghanistan) will be among priorities of Tajikistan’s chairmanship of the CIS in 2018.
