Russia Warns of the Threat of Terrorist Activity and Drugs in Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan

Russia's permanent representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, warned of the danger of terrorist activity and drug trafficking spreading from Afghanistan to its neighboring countries. During a session of the UN Security Council, Nebenzya stated, "Today there is a real danger of the spread of terrorist activity and drugs, including under the guise of migration, to the territories of neighboring countries." He added, "We rely on the Taliban (an organization subject to UN sanctions due to its terrorist activities) to continue to fulfill their promises to combat these challenges." The Taliban took control of the Afghan capital, Kabul, and most of the country on August 15, following the departure of former President Ashraf Ghani and several officials. The United States completed its military withdrawal from Afghanistan on August 31, after a 20-year war.