Russian Minister of Defence General of the Army Sergei Shoigu greeted the participants of the International conference on Afghanistan

Dear friends!

I welcome the participants and guests of the International conference on Afghanistan.

In the course of several decades combat action does not stop. After withdrawal of the main contingent of the International Security Assistance Force the military situation remains tense. Terrorist organizations interested in keeping the situation instable have re-emerged.

The increased activity of ISIS envoys in Afghanistan is a matter of particular concern.

Strengthening of the regional security is possible only in case of consolidation of efforts of all the interested states. In particular, the actions agreed on within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization could contribute to positive changes in Afghanistan.

We strongly believe that the open exchange of views within the conference will contribute to counteraction against challenges and threats to the regional security.

It is important to achieve mutual understanding of what we could do together to assist the leadership of Afghanistan and to prevent the spread of extremism to the neighbor states.

We expect that the forum of representatives of General Staffs will allow to analyze the reasons of the current situation and to define the ways to achieve stability in the country and in the whole region.

I wish you fruitful discussions and all the best.

Minister of Defence

of the Russian Federation

General of the Army

Source: Ministry of Defense  of the Russian Federation

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