Anna Evstigneeva, Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations, has warned that terrorist groups in Afghanistan may gain access to Western weapons left behind in the country.
Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday, 19 November 2025, Evstigneeva said that Islamic State–Khorasan (IS-K) remains active in Afghanistan and that the Taliban’s efforts to contain the group have been “insufficient.”
She claimed that terrorist fighters in Afghanistan are funded by foreign countries and that among them are individuals with combat experience from the wars in Syria and Iraq.
Evstigneeva added that there is a risk that these groups could expand their activities into Central Asia and beyond.
She stressed that the international community must take comprehensive measures to combat terrorism and dismantle the groups operating in Afghanistan.
Russia has said that more than 20 terrorist groups with around 15,000 fighters are present in Afghanistan, posing a potential threat to regional states, particularly those in Central Asia.
The Taliban, however, have repeatedly rejected such claims, insisting that since regaining power, they have “eradicated” terrorist groups in the country.
