Russia Warns of Expanding IS-K Threat in Afghanistan

Russia Warns of Expanding IS-K Threat in Afghanistan
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Russia has cautioned that Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) is widening its footprint in Afghanistan, posing escalating risks to both the country and its neighbors, according to remarks reported by Khaama Press. Moscow’s deputy envoy to the United Nations, Anna Evstigneeva, told a UN Security Council committee that the group is consolidating its operations and attempting to destabilize the wider region.

Evstigneeva said the Taliban’s efforts to combat extremist factions remain limited, despite some progress. She noted that IS-K militants continue to receive support and recruits from abroad. The envoy also raised concerns about large caches of weapons left behind by Western forces, warning that these arms could be diverted to terrorist groups and used in attacks outside Afghanistan.

Russian officials, including Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, have previously estimated that more than 23,000 fighters from various international extremist organizations are now based in Afghanistan. UN experts have likewise assessed that the current security environment allows several foreign groups, including al-Qaeda and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, to operate training facilities across the country.