‘IS fighters amassing in Afghanistan,’ says Putin

IS leaders want to project the group’s influence across former Soviet States: Putin

October 15, 2021 10:36 pm | Updated October 16, 2021 07:09 pm IST - Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks via video conference at a summit of the Eurasian Economic Union where pandemic's economic effect, gas and oil markets and climate change issues in St. Petersburg, Russia, Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021. (Alexei Druzhinin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks via video conference at a summit of the Eurasian Economic Union where pandemic's economic effect, gas and oil markets and climate change issues in St. Petersburg, Russia, Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021. (Alexei Druzhinin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said hundreds of fighters loyal to the Islamic State militant group were massing in northern Afghanistan with plans to move between ex-Soviet Central Asian countries disguised as refugees.

“According to our intelligence, the number of (IS) members alone in northern Afghanistan is about 2,000 people,” the Russian leader said during a video conference meeting with leaders of other ex-Soviet States.

The Russian President earlier this week warned of the threat of veteran fighters from Iraq and Syria with IS links crossing into Afghanistan, while Russia’s Foreign Ministry said it expected the Taliban, which recently gained control of the country, to deal with the threat.

On Friday, he said IS leaders in Afghanistan are seeking to project the group’s influence across former Soviet States in Central Asia — which Moscow sees as its backyard — to stir up religious and ethnic discord.

“Terrorists are seeking to infiltrate the Commonwealth’s territory, including under the guise of refugees,” Putin said, referring to a group of ex-Soviet countries — some of which border Afghanistan.

The Taliban, which seized control of Kabul from a pro-Western government in mid-August, are seeking international recognition, as well as assistance to avoid a humanitarian disaster.

Talks next week

Mr. Putin’s special envoy to Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, told Russian news agency Interfax on Friday that Taliban representatives would attend an international conference in Moscow next week alongside regional players Iran, China and Pakistan.

President Putin on Friday said there was no need to rush with official recognition of the Taliban but noted that “we understand that we need to interact with them”.

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