Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Security Council of Russia, has stated that approximately 18,000 to 23,000 fighters affiliated with more than 20 different groups are active in Afghanistan.
The TASS news agency reported on Thursday, 14 May 2026, that Sergei Shoigu made these remarks during a meeting of the secretaries of security bodies of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
He said that threats stemming from terrorism and drug trafficking originating from Afghan territory remain among the main security concerns in the region.
Shoigu added that the Islamic State group in Afghanistan has around three thousand members and carried out several attacks last year, resulting in the killing and injury of dozens of military personnel and civilians.
According to him, in addition to this situation, the entry of foreign fighters from other regions into Afghanistan is also continuing, which has increased security challenges.
The Secretary of the Security Council of Russia emphasized that although some measures have been taken to control these threats, a portion of these groups is still operating outside the full monitoring of the Taliban security institutions inside Afghanistan.
