Lavrov warns Afghanistan and Middle East crises threaten wider regional security

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warns that instability in Afghanistan and the Middle East is escalating security risks across Eurasia and neighbouring regions.

Sergey Lavrov has warned that the situation in Afghanistan, alongside ongoing crises in the Middle East, is affecting security across the wider region, including Central Asia.

Speaking at a meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation parliamentary assembly, Lavrov said rising instability in the Gulf and around Afghanistan is impacting the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Caspian region.

He said threats in Eurasia are increasing and require stronger collective action, adding that countries pursuing conflict-driven policies are creating new security risks.

Lavrov also said counter-terrorism efforts in Afghanistan remain ongoing, alongside concerns over drug trafficking networks operating in the region.

Russian security assessments have previously estimated that between 20,000 and 23,000 militants linked to various groups are active in Afghanistan, including Islamic State Khorasan Province and other regional networks.

Despite Taliban claims that security has improved, international bodies including the United Nations Security Council continue to flag the presence of ISIS-K as a serious concern.

Russia currently holds the chairmanship of the Collective Security Treaty Organization and has pledged closer coordination with member states to address shared security threats.

Lavrov reaffirmed that Russia will continue working with allies to strengthen regional defence and counter emerging threats across Eurasia.

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