MOSCOW, January 28. /TASS/. A lack of funds caused by Western sanctions limits the Afghan authorities’ ability to fight against the Islamic State terror group (IS, outlawed in Russia), Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Syromolotov said in an interview with TASS.

"We call on the leaders of the Taliban movement (outlawed in Russia - TASS) to step up efforts to root out terrorism. The issue was particularly discussed during the recent Kabul visit of Russian Special Presidential Envoy for Afghanistan [Zamir] Kabulov. However, we realize that the Afghan authorities’ potential is limited due to the total lack of funds caused, first and foremost, by the illegal financial restrictions of Washington and the like," he stressed.

According to Syromolotov, although the Islamic State’s activities "dramatically declined" in the first months following the Taliban’s coming to power in August 2021, the organization significantly stepped up its activities in Afghanistan in early 2022. "IS members claimed responsibility for the most high-profile attacks, including a terrorist attack near Russia’s embassy, which killed two of our colleagues, attacks on an education center in Kabul’s Shiite neighborhood and a hotel where mostly Chinese nationals were staying, as well as an explosion near the Afghan Foreign Ministry building and as attempt on the life of the Pakistani diplomatic mission’s chief," the Russian deputy foreign minister noted.

He emphasized that the Islamic State posed "a serious threat to Afghanistan and the countries of the region," namely Central Asian nations. "The group seeks to gain a foothold on Afghan soil and discredit the country’s current authoriites, highlighting their inability to ensure complete security," Syromolotov said. "We believe that Kabul has enough will to fulfill its obligations to prevent the threat of terrorism from spilling over from Afghanistan," he added.