ISIS fighters in Afghanistan not to fight foreign troops but to destabilize Central Asia: Kabulov

Russia once again expressed its grave concern over ISIS fighters’ transfer from the group’s stronghold in Syria and Iraq to Afghanistan, saying the militants’ aim is not to fight NATO forces but to destabilize Central Asian countries, Russian media reported on Monday.
According to a report by Tass News Agency, director of the Russia foreign ministry’s second Asia department and Russian president’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov told RT that most of the ISIS fighters transferred to Afghanistan are citizens of the Central Asian states.
“They are mostly recruits from Central Asia. These people are being pulled there not to fight against foreign troops in Afghanistan but to get prepared to destabilize the political situation in Central Asia,” Zamir Kabulov said.
At the consultations on the settlement of the situation in Afghanistan on September 26, Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev warned against possible repeat of the Syrian scenario in Afghanistan.
This comes as reports recently emerged that ISIS or Daesh fighters have flown to Afghanistan after they were fiercely hit by Syrian forces with military support from Russia and Iran.
Citing unknown Pakistani security sources, Asharq Al-Awsat even reported last month that the group’s supreme leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has escaped to eastern Afghanistan along the border with Pakistan.
According to Pakistani security sources, Al-Baghdadi crossed through the Iranian city of Zahedan, where Iran borders the southwest tip of Afghanistan.
Moscow has consistently expressed concern over the worsening situation in Afghanistan, especially the rise in ISIS activities despite NATO military presence in the war-ravaged country. Russia considers ISIS in Afghanistan as a scheme to destabilize Central Asian nations, which are regarded as Moscow’s sphere of influence.