Extremists and terrorists may try to infiltrate from Afghanistan to neighboring countries, particularly Central Asian states, disguised as refugees, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing on Thursday.
"We see serious risks that terrorists and extremists may infiltrate into regional countries, especially Central Asian states, under the guise of refugees," she said.
"In the short term, the new Afghan authorities will face the challenge of creating favorable conditions for Afghans in their country, in its new stage of development. For this, of course, it will be necessary to solve the migration problem," Zakharova added.
Aid from Western countries
Western countries should effectively help Afghanistan to reduce or completely cut off migration flows, Zakharova said.
"We believe that the international community and, above all, traditional Western donors to Afghanistan should provide effective assistance to the population of this country in order to reduce or completely curb migration flows," she said.
"Words pay no debts. The countries of the West, which for 20 years experimented uncontrollably, although they had to obey and implement the mandate of the Council, <...> owe Afghanistan in every sense of the word, and to pretend that they left, hastily assembled, and that is all, the story is over, will not work," Zakharova added.
In 2015, the largest migration crisis in EU history occurred when conflicts in North Africa and the Middle East, particularly the wars in Libya and Syria, caused an influx of refugees from the region and Central African states to flood into Europe. In total, more than one million illegal migrants arrived in the EU.
In the spring of this year, the Taliban (banned in Russia) launched a large-scale operation to establish control over Afghanistan after the US announced its intention to withdraw troops from the country. On August 15, President Ashraf Ghani left the country and the Taliban entered Kabul without a fight. Forces who disagreed with the radicals' rule organized resistance in Panjshir province, led by Ahmad Masood. Former Vice President Amrullah Saleh, who declared himself acting head of state, called on his support. From August 15 to August 31, the United States, NATO and their allies evacuated from Afghanistan their personnel and some Afghans who cooperated with Western countries during the last 20 years.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Sergey Bobylev / TASS
Based on materials from TASS