The rise of Islamic State in Afghanistan poses serious security concerns for Russia, Moscow has said, adding that Washington bears responsibility for the current chaos in the country.
Moscow “is concerned over the rise of Islamic State [IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL] in Afghanistan because it has far-reaching geopolitical consequences for Russian safety,” said Zamir Kabulov, the Russian Foreign Ministry's director of the Second Asian Department in Afghanistan.
The situation in Afghanistan increases tension in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, said Kabulov Russian Presidential Envoy to Afghanistan, director of the Second Asian Department at the Russian at a press conference, reports RIA Novosti.
Kabulov noted that Islamic State continues to recruit people and enhance their combat capabilities, according to RT. “If they are not restrained then the chances are that we will have to face an even more powerful force,” Kabulov said.
Kabulov said that about 2,500 Islamic State combatants are currently in Afghanistan.
The US bears responsibility for the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, he added. “The US cut back their presence [in Afghanistan] and did not resolve a single issue and created more problems. They carry political and moral responsibility for what is taking place in Afghanistan now," Kabulov said.
According to him, Washington’s approach is changing from relatively optimistic to more realistic. “While six months ago our US counterparts were more optimistic about the situation in Afghanistan, arguing that there are many difficulties but it is possible to overcome them, this time I was impressed by the fact that the Americans were more realistic, they realize that the situation is at a dangerous point, beyond which there is more chaos,” he added.
Moscow is still calling upon its American colleagues to take more active steps to handle the crisis, he added. “It would be good if this more serious approach was transformed into real actions,” he said.
Kabulov said that the US has partially lifted sanctions against Russian cooperation with Afghanistan on helicopter maintenance with Russia’s Rosoboronexport, the country’s state agency for exports/imports of defense-related and dual-use products.
“Nothing prevented them from lifting sanctions against Rosoboronexport in the part concerning delivery and maintenance of our helicopters to Afghanistan. They painted themselves into a corner and had to partially lift sanctions.”
If Russia finds ways to deliver its aviation equipment to Afghanistan, there will be the need to train Afghan pilots, Kabulov said.
Kabulov served as Russian envoy to Afghanistan in 2004-2009 and is currently a special representative of the Russian president on Afghanistan.
