Sergei Shoigu: International terrorists see Afghanistan as a base for infiltration of neighbouring countries

“I am grateful for the support of our initiative for the heads of defence ministries of Central Asian states and Russia to meet,” said Army General Sergei Shoigu, Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation, at the beginning of the meeting.
“The reason for this is the growing military danger in Central Asia and increased activity of international and regional terrorist organizations in Afghanistan, primarily the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant* and al-Qaeda*,” he added.
“Leaders of international terrorists consider the Afghan territory as a base for infiltration of neighbouring countries and creation of an extensive network of underground jihadists whose number increases, among other things, by moving fighters from hot spots,” said Army General Sergei Shoigu, Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation, at the meeting of defence ministers of Russia and Central Asian states.
According to TASS, Sergei Shoigu specified that religious radicalism, drug trafficking and cross-border crime are spreading in the region.
The Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation noted the need to strengthen coordination between the security agencies of Central Asian states and Russia to counter terrorist organizations in the region and form unified approaches to combating them.
Sergei Shoigu noted that the credible dialogue that has developed over the years between the Central Asian states will contribute to the development and improvement of interaction.
Participants of the meeting included ministers of defence: Ruslan Zhaksylykov of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Baktybek Bekbolatov of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sergei Shoigu of the Russian Federation, Sherali Mirzo of the Republic of Tajikistan and Bakhodir Kurbanov of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Earlier during a bilateral meeting, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu invited his Kazakh counterpart Ruslan Zhaksylykov to the military and technical forum The Army that will be held in August. Sergei Shoigu also invited the Kazakh delegation to attend the Moscow International Security Conference.