Russia Warns ISIS-K Seeks to Build Caliphate from Afghanistan

DID Press: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that ISIS-K (Islamic State Khorasan Province) aims to use Afghanistan as a base to expand its operations and establish a self-proclaimed caliphate, while the Taliban rejected the claims, insisting the group’s presence has been neutralized.

In a message to the conference on “Capacity Building to Prevent the Supply of Weapons to Terrorists in Central Asia,” Sergey Lavrov described ISIS-K as the region’s primary security threat, saying the group is pursuing expansionist ambitions by using Afghanistan as a launchpad for its operations.

Lavrov stressed the transnational nature of terrorism and called for unconditional international cooperation to combat extremist groups. He also criticized what he described as the West’s “double standards” in counterterrorism, arguing that geopolitical rivalries have undermined global cooperation.

The Russian foreign minister also highlighted Moscow’s commitment to Central Asian security, announcing that member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) had approved a draft Counterterrorism Strategy through 2030, which is expected to be submitted to regional leaders for final approval later this year.

Lavrov added that Russia is among the top 10 financial contributors to the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, having allocated $7 million to support technical assistance programs in Central Asia and Africa.

Responding to the remarks, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid rejected claims that ISIS-K maintains an operational presence in Afghanistan, saying Taliban forces have dismantled the group’s activities and that it “no longer has a physical presence” in the country.

Mujahid said the Taliban exercises full control across Afghanistan and that no security threat emanates from Afghan territory toward neighboring countries.

Russian officials, however, have repeatedly voiced concerns over the activities of extremist groups in Afghanistan. Earlier, President Vladimir Putin, Alexander Bortnikov, director of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), and Defense Minister Andrey Belousov warned of the growing threat posed by militant groups operating in Afghanistan. Belousov claimed that more than 20 radical groups with around 15,000 fighters remain active in the country and could threaten neighboring states.