MOSCOW, July 22-RIA Novosti. The northern provinces of Afghanistan are rapidly turning into a new hot spot, said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko.
"The Taliban almost completely controls the border with Tajikistan. Numerous international terrorist organizations, in particular IG* and Al-Qaeda branches*, are strengthening their positions, " he said in an interview with RIA Novosti.
Also, terrorists from combat zones in the Middle East and North Africa are gathering in the region.
"The process of recruiting immigrants from Central Asian countries to the ranks of such organizations is in an active phase. Drug production has reached record heights, " Rudenko described the situation.
What is happening poses a direct threat to Central Asia, the diplomat believes.
"We share the corresponding concerns of our neighbors. .."The importance of maintaining joint coordinated work in order to minimize the negative impact of these risks on the security of our countries was, in particular, noted during the fourth meeting of the foreign ministers of Russia and the Central Asian states in Tashkent on July 16 and in the joint statement adopted following it," he said.
Much of what Rudenko described is connected with the hasty withdrawal of the American contingent from the camp.
In Afghanistan, there is a confrontation between government forces and the militants of the Taliban movement*, who have seized significant territories in rural areas and launched an offensive on major cities. Instability is increasing against the background of the withdrawal of US troops from the country.
* A terrorist organization banned in Russia.
