KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Alexander Bortnikov, the Director of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), has warned that ISIS has intensified its activities in Afghanistan, posing a growing threat to regional stability.
Speaking at a meeting of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) counterterrorism agencies in Moscow, Bortnikov said the group’s Afghanistan branch—Islamic State Khorasan Province (IS-KP)—has expanded its operations across the country.
He said the leadership of international terrorist networks is increasingly relying on militants based in Afghanistan and Syria. He also noted the mobilization of former prisoners in Syria, many of whom are from Russia, Central Asia, and the Caucasus.
Bortnikov attributed the resurgence of extremist groups to Western geopolitical maneuvers, especially in the Middle East. He said instability in Syria, Libya, and the Gaza conflict, along with pressure on Iran, is fueling the spread of Islamic radicalism.
“Against this backdrop, ISIS activity in Afghanistan has intensified,” he added.
The Taliban quickly rejected Bortnikov’s remarks. In an interview with TOLOnews, Taliban deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat described these comments as “baseless” and asserted that IS-KP has been “neutralized” in the country.
Since the withdrawal of US and NATO forces and the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, IS-KP has become one of the most active and deadly ISIS affiliates. The group has carried out numerous attacks inside Afghanistan, particularly targeting Hazara-Shia communities and Taliban members. It has also claimed responsibility for cross-border attacks, including deadly incidents in Russia and Iran last year.
Despite denying IS-KP’s presence in the country, the Taliban continues to report operations against the group.
Most recently, on Monday, Taliban-controlled media reported a raid on an IS-KP hideout in Kabul’s 15th security district. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid later confirmed the operation, saying the hideout was destroyed and two IS-KP members were killed during the overnight raid.
However, experts and intelligence analysts have raised doubts about the credibility of the Taliban’s recent operation, citing lack of independent verification. Former CIA officer Sarah Adams, for instance, has accused the group of “staging fake operations to appease the US and secure counterterrorism funding.”
