Putin: “Al-Qaeda” is increasing its potential in Afghanistan

A meeting of representatives of the security councils of the countries in the region took place in Moscow.

Photo: Internet

On February 8, a fifth multilateral meeting of security representatives dedicated to the Afghan issue was held in Moscow.

The event was attended by representatives of the security councils of Tajikistan, Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated at this meeting that the situation in Afghanistan has not improved since the withdrawal of U.S. armed forces. “International terrorist organizations, including Al-Qaeda, are becoming more active in Afghanistan, which is increasing their potential,” he said.

Putin called Afghanistan important for Russia and emphasized that, especially in the current situation, “the significance of Afghanistan for Russia has doubled.” According to the Russian president, drug trafficking is increasing in Afghanistan, and the area under cultivation is expanding, with 80% of the world’s opiates originating from Afghanistan.

The meeting noted that hidden American weapons in Afghanistan worth billions of dollars could be sold to terrorist groups or used in a potential war between Afghan factions.

Security advisors from the region expressed concern over the lack of an inclusive government in Afghanistan and indirectly warned that delays in forming an inclusive government could lead to all the problems facing the country.

Representatives of the Taliban were not present at this meeting, despite discussions on Afghanistan’s security and the impact of the situation in the country on neighboring countries and the region. The Taliban were also never invited to previous meetings.

The Taliban had previously stated that the presence of a representative of the Taliban government is essential at any meeting where the situation in Afghanistan is the main topic of discussion.

“Undoubtedly, there will be critical discussions, viewpoints, or directives at such meetings, and it is precisely the representative of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan who can address complex issues and present their arguments at such meetings,” the Taliban’s statement noted.

The third meeting of representatives from the region on security took place in Delhi, the capital of India, and the fourth in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, in May 2022. At that time, representatives also emphasized the importance of creating an inclusive government and combating terrorism.