Taliban Seize Eight Capitals In Six Days, Russian Defense Minister: This Is Worrying

Illustration of the Afghan military under attack from the Taliban. (Wikimedia Commons/FutureTrillionaire)

JAKARTA - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the Taliban group had succeeded in controlling Afghanistan's borders with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, Wednesday local time.

Shoigu said the current situation in Afghanistan is a concern and raises security concerns for Moscow.

The Taliban, who are scrambling to reimpose Islamic law after being expelled in 2001, seized control of another city in northern Afghanistan today.

The fall of Afghanistan's borders with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, became the eighth capital that the Taliban had captured in the past six months.

The Taliban control most of Afghanistan's northern provinces adjacent to the former Soviet Union's Central Asia. European Union officials on Tuesday said the Taliban now control 65 percent of Afghanistan.

"Despite the Taliban's promise not to cross the border, Moscow will continue to hold joint exercises with its allies in the region," Shoigu said.

Russia operates a military base in Tajikistan, where the former Soviet Union is a member of the Moscow-led military bloc. By itself, Moscow is obliged to protect in case of an invasion. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan also maintains close relations with Russia.

For information, Russia held joint exercises with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan near the Afghan border this August. Russia is also strengthening its military base in Tajikistan with new armored vehicles and weapons.

The Soviet Union occupied Afghanistan from 1979 to 1989. They left the country after 15,000 of its troops were killed and tens of thousands injured.