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Fight against Islamic state

Islamic State may set eyes on Central Asia, top diplomat warns

Moscow is concerned the IS militants are building up their presence on the borders with Russia's neighbors and allies

MOSCOW, December 15. /TASS/. The Central Asian countries may become the next goal of the Islamic State (IS, a terror organization, outlawed in Russia), Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday, speaking at a "government hour" symposium at the Federation Council.

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Putin warns IS plans to destabilize southern Russia and Central Asia

"As for Afghanistan….We are worried that the IS militants are building up their presence on the borders with our neighbors and allies: the Central Asian countries. First of all, in Afghanistan they are striving for the north," the minister noted.

"It gives the idea that the Central Asia is their next goal."

"Within the OSCE (the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) and within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), involving not just foreign ministries, but law enforcement agencies, intelligence agencies and defense ministries as well, we are developing corresponding plans to fight against this terror threat," Lavrov said.

"Besides, there is the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group that was convened this past October in Moscow and will be convened early next year in China. The war on terror is one of the key issues on the agenda."

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Foreign policy Islamic State

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