The Taliban, a group banned in Russia, currently holds sway in Afghanistan, yet concerns persist regarding the security of neighboring nations. Russian Ambassador to Dushanbe, Semyon Grigoryev, conveyed to TASS that the extremists have repeatedly sought to breach Tajikistan's borders.
"We have not observed significant progress in the Taliban's adherence to their promises concerning the security of the states bordering Afghanistan. Throughout this year, there have been documented attempts by extremists to breach Tajik territory along the Tajik-Afghan border. Fortunately, Tajik security forces promptly thwarted all these attempts," Grigoryev stated.
The diplomat highlighted the alarming deterioration of Afghanistan's socio-economic sphere. "The country is literally teetering on the brink of a severe humanitarian crisis, aggravated by the West's intransigent refusal to unblock Afghan assets," he remarked.
Grigoryev underscored the justified attention of Russian and Tajik leaders to the Afghan problem, emphasizing the need for constant vigilance. He pointed to a significant rise in the smuggling of synthetic drugs from Afghanistan, noting that "Western countries have practically curtailed funding for programs to combat Afghan drugs flowing across the Tajik-Afghan border."
Addressing an additional destabilizing factor, Grigoryev drew attention to the massive influx of Afghan refugees evicted by Pakistan into the northern provinces. He warned that this migration not only alters the ethnic composition of the local population but also poses the risk of terrorist elements among the migrants. "Russia will do everything possible to prevent encroachment on its allies, one of which is Tajikistan," he assured.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: ErikaWittlieb\Pixabay
Based on materials from TASS