Afghan radicals try to enter Central Asia disguised as tourists, Lavrov says

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said radical groups in Afghanistan intend to use the country to threaten Central Asia and Russia. He made the remarks at a conference on the security of Central Asia and Afghanistan held under the CSTO, the CIS and the SCO. Daryo reported the statement, citing 24.kg.

According to Lavrov, terrorist and extremist groups, along with their camps and bases, still remain in Afghanistan's border areas with Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Members of these groups are trying to enter Central Asian states and are presenting themselves as refugees and tourists. Lavrov said the main danger comes from ISIS-Khorasan, which he described as the regional branch of the international terrorist organisation ISIS.

Lavrov said the «terrorist international» across the Panj River has drawn in fighters from Central Asia, the North Caucasus and the Uyghur people, who gained experience in armed conflicts in the Middle East and Africa. He also warned that the threat would grow if unscrupulous external forces used the processes in Afghanistan for their own selfish interests, which he said have nothing in common with the interests of Central Asia and Russia. ISIS has been designated a terrorist organisation by many countries and international organisations.