Shoigu: 18,000-23,000 Militants Operating in Afghanistan

Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu announced that an estimated 18,000 to 23,000 militants from over 20 different groups are currently operating in Afghanistan. Speaking at the 21st meeting of secretaries of relevant agencies of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states in Bishkek, Shoigu emphasized that the security situation in Afghanistan is critical for the stability of the SCO region, particularly regarding threats of terrorism and drug trafficking. He noted that while the Taliban government is actively combating the Islamic State (IS), which has approximately 3,000 members and carried out 12 major attacks in 2025, significant challenges remain. Shoigu highlighted an increasing influx of Uyghur, Tajik, and Uzbek militants arriving from Syria, specifically from former Hayat Tahrir al-Sham affiliates. Although Taliban security agencies are monitoring these arrivals, some radical elements remain outside state control. The remarks underscore Russia's concern over regional security dynamics and the potential spillover of instability from Afghanistan into neighboring Central Asian states within the SCO framework.