Summary Russia says 18,000–23,000 militants from over 20 groups are active in Afghanistan, warning of regional security threats, drug trafficking and continued instability.
MOSCOW (Dunya News) - Russia’s Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu has stated that between 18,000 and 23,000 militants belonging to more than 20 extremist groups are currently active in Afghanistan, posing a serious security threat to the region.
Addressing the 21st meeting of the Secretaries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Security Council, Shoigu expressed concern over terrorism and drug trafficking risks emerging from Afghanistan’s ongoing situation.
According to Russian media reports, Shoigu said that the situation in Afghanistan has become a critical issue for regional security, adding that around 3,000 ISIS-K militants are present in the country.
He claimed that ISIS-K carried out 12 major attacks in 2025, resulting in the deaths of 40 security personnel and 25 civilians, while more than 50 others were injured.
The Russian official also stated that the movement of fighters from Syria, including Uighur, Tajik and Uzbek militants, into Afghanistan is increasing, adding that some of these elements were previously linked to other extremist organisations, raising further security concerns.
He noted that Afghan security agencies are monitoring militant groups entering the country, but several factions remain outside Taliban control despite ongoing counterterrorism efforts.
Shoigu also highlighted developments in Afghanistan’s narcotics situation, saying that while opium cultivation has decreased by around 90 percent since the Taliban took power, production of synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine has increased. He added that over 30 tons of synthetic drugs were seized at Afghan borders in 2025.
He further said that around four million people in Afghanistan remain involved in drug-related agriculture due to the severe economic crisis, underscoring the ongoing humanitarian and security challenges in the country.
