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Fight against Islamic state

Russian Defense Ministry identifies presence of first IS groups in Afghanistan

Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov says it can be seen very well they are beginning to put pressures on the southern borders of Russia's allies, the CSTO member-states in the first place

© AP Photo/Dusan Vranic

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MOSCOW, 4 March. /TASS/. The Russian Defense Ministry is concerned over the situation on the southern borders of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, as it has identified the emergence of the first groups of Islamic State militants in Afghanistan, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov told a news conference at TASS on Thursday.

"We are alarmed over the situation on the CSTO’s southern borders. We are aware of what is happening in Afghanistan. We know that the first groups of the Islamic State militants have appeared in the region," he said.

"We can see very well they are beginning to put pressures on the southern borders of our allies, the CSTO member-states in the first place. It is Tajikistan that I have in mind above all. For our part we have been taking measures to reinforce Russian military bases in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan."

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CSTO Russian Defense Ministry Islamic State

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