Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said that extremist groups in Afghanistan have expanded their activities in neighbouring countries.

Shoigu said that these groups have stepped up efforts to promote their ideas in the region.

Addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers’ meeting in New Delhi on Friday, the Russian defence minister emphasised that international terrorist groups including Al Qaeda, ISIS, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), and East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) have increased their influence in the region.

The Russian defence minister warned at the SCO meeting that considering the current situation in Central Asia, it is necessary to adopt new security measures for the region.

According to him, extremists who have settled in Afghanistan, pose main security threats to Central Asia.

Emphasising that Afghanistan is a key issue in the agenda of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, he said that in order to deal with terrorism, separatism, extremism, and instability in the region, there should be more coordination between SCO member states.

The SCO defence ministers discussed military issues, threats to global and regional security, and challenges facing member countries in Friday’s meeting in New Delhi.

Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and India are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

Concerns about regional security have increased in Central Asia while Tajikistan announced on Wednesday that two terrorists who had entered Tajikistan from Afghanistan have been killed. Tajik officials said that these two terrorists had planned terrorist attacks inside Tajikistan.