Russia: Afghanistan is the biggest threat

According to the Russian Defense Minister, the past year has witnessed a 15% increase in the number of ISIS militants in Central Asia, highlighting Afghanistan as the region’s foremost threat.

During a conference with top Russian military officials, Sergei Shoigu emphasized the challenging situation in the region, with Afghanistan remaining the principal source of concern.

Shoigu outlined that ISIS’s primary objective in Central Asia is to disseminate extremist ideologies and foster terrorist activities along the southern borders of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states.

He also alerted to a significant 20% surge in drug trafficking through the Central Asian republics, underscoring the multifaceted security challenges facing the region.