More than 50,000 militants from 21 terrorist organizations are currently operating in Afghanistan, the country's deputy defense minister, Hilaluddin Helal, said on Friday.
BEIJING (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 26th October, 2018) More than 50,000 militants from 21 terrorist organizations are currently operating in Afghanistan, the country's deputy defense minister, Hilaluddin Helal, said on Friday.
"Currently, 21 terrorist organizations are operating in the country. The total number of militants stands at 50,200," Helal said at the eight Beijing Xiangshan Forum on defense, which opened on Thursday.
The minister added that Afghanistan had become "a central battlefield" for members of various terrorist organizations that are "fighting for influence in the region."
Afghanistan has long been suffering from an unstable political, social and security situation due to simmering Taliban insurgency. The violence is exacerbated by the activities of various terrorist groups, including the Islamic State (IS, banned in Russia).
