MOSCOW (HRNW) – Russia said Thursday it expects the Taliban to deal with the Islamic State group in Afghanistan without external support, ahead of talks in Moscow next week.
The comments came after President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday warned of battle-hardened extremists from Iraq and Syria with ties to IS entering Afghanistan.
The Taliban, which seized control of Kabul from a pro-Western government in mid-August, are seeking international recognition, as well as assistance to avoid a humanitarian disaster.
The hardline Islamist regime faces a threat from an IS group affiliate called Islamic State in Korasan (IS-K), a bitter rival that has staged deadly attacks.
“We are concerned about the continuing activity of the (Islamic State) terrorist group” in Afghanistan, foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters.
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