Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Security Council of Russia, has stated that around 18,000 to 23,000 fighters linked to more than 20 different groups are operating in Afghanistan. The TASS news agency reported on Thursday, that Shoigu made the remarks during a meeting of security council secretaries of member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). He said that threats stemming from terrorism and drug trafficking from Afghan territory remain among the main security concerns in the region. Shoigu added that the Islamic State group in Afghanistan has around 3,000 members and carried out several attacks over the past year, resulting in dozens of military and civilian casualties. According to him, the presence of foreign fighters from other regions entering Afghanistan is continuing, further increasing security challenges. The Russian security chief emphasized that despite some efforts to contain these threats, part of these groups still operate outside the full control of Taliban security institutions in Afghanistan.
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