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Caucasus, Central Asia natives prevalent among IS militants in Afghanistan, says ministry

A number of the militants also come from the Volga Region, the director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Second Asia Department said

MOSCOW, November 12. /TASS/. Natives of Central Asia, the North Caucasus and the Volga Region make up a sizeable part of militants of the Islamic State (IS, terror group, outlawed in Russia) in Afghanistan, Russian Special Presidential Envoy for Afghanistan and Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Second Asia Department Zamir Kabulov told reporters at a news conference following second meeting of the Moscow-format consultations on Afghanistan on Monday.

"We have repeatedly drawn attention to the fact that the Islamic State’s main forces are trying to create its own network along Afghanistan’s northern border with the Central Asian states. Natives of Central Asia, the North Caucasus and the Volga Region make up a considerable, if not a dominant part of its militants. This fact is indicative of the possible goals and tasks of that organization, more precisely, the goals and tasks set for them by their external sponsors," the diplomat said.

"Both Afghan delegations (of the government and the Taliban - TASS) were strongly opposed to the IS, pointing to the need to fight against that international terrorist organization. In addition to achieving peace in Afghanistan, there is another point of coincidence between the warring parties. It is a fact that the Islamic State emerged because of the current strife in Afghan society and among the people. That made it possible for the IS to gain a foothold, they are actively creating their own network," Kabulov stressed.

According to Russia’s envoy, Moscow notes a slowdown in the number of Islamic State militants in Afghanistan due losing ground in Syria and expects the Afghan authorities and the international military contingent deployed to that country to vigorously deal with the destruction of identified terrorists. "We expect the Afghan government and international troops, which are there allegedly to combat terrorism to deal with that first and foremost. We expect both reasonable explanations and specific actions from them," he said.