Russia-banned terrorist organization Islamic State (IS) seeks to undermine security and stability in Afghanistan and neighboring countries, relying on external support. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a briefing on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on Thursday.
"The security situation in Afghanistan is characterized as tense," she said. - "It is obvious that ISIS (former name of IS - TASS) is engaged in subversive activities against the current authorities of the country. At the same time, the goal is to undermine stability in the territories of Central Asian states neighboring Afghanistan. And, of course, ISIS is supported by external forces, and the ISIS members themselves, in fact, confirm the funding of this terrorist group by foreign intelligence services and foreign terrorists in their ranks.
The diplomatic representative drew attention to the fact that "amid sanctions and the blocking of Afghanistan's Central Bank assets by Western countries, Kabul manages to maintain a stable situation in the country, although it is not easy." "We have seen the first positive results of the anti-drug efforts of the new Afghan authorities," she continued. - "The continued difficult situation in the economic and humanitarian spheres is a clear result of the double standard policy of Washington and its satellites, who continue to link humanitarian assistance to the local population with political concessions on the part of the Afghan leadership."
"Russia, for its part, continues to provide free aid to the Afghan people," Zakharova noted. - "In particular, another shipment of Russian food, about 1,000 tons, was delivered to Afghanistan in May as part of the main contribution to the UN World Food Program."
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: Alexander Shcherbak / TASS
Based on materials from TASS