According to Kulov, the actions of the President of Kyrgyzstan to strengthen defense capabilities amid the escalation in Afghanistan are extremely important.
Felix Kulov expressed his assessment of the situation in Afghanistan and potential threats to Central Asia on his social media page.
He referred to a recent statement by Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, who effectively confirmed that the confrontation with the Taliban has become an "open war," adding that Pakistan has accepted five million Afghans over the past 50 years, and that millions of Afghans still live and work in Pakistan.
“These statements about 'open war' and 'export of terrorism' are not just emotional remarks; they reflect deep processes affecting the entire region,” Kulov emphasized.
According to him, there are between 20,000 to 23,000 militants in Afghanistan, more than half of whom are foreign mercenaries, indicating that the country has become an important hub of transnational extremism.
Kulov also noted that various radical groups continue to operate in Afghanistan, such as the "Islamic State - Khorasan Province" (IS-K), which has about 2,000 militants, as well as "Al-Qaeda," "Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan" (5,000 to 7,000 militants), and "Jamaat Ansarullah."
UN experts claim that there are more than 20 extremist organizations operating in the country, and training camps are located in the northern provinces adjacent to Central Asia.
Kulov pointed out that a significant portion of IS-K militants are foreigners, including citizens of Central Asian countries, who may return home to create "sleeper cells."
“The threat is no longer theoretical; it has taken on a practical nature. The situation at the Tajik-Afghan border has sharply deteriorated: 6 incidents were recorded in 2024, and in 2025 — already 17. The volume of seized drugs reached 2.8 tons,” the politician added.
He reported that in January of this year, there were two serious armed clashes at the border with Tajikistan — on January 18 and 29, during which the attackers were killed, and modern weapons, including American-made ones, were seized from them.
Commenting on the attack on a Chinese restaurant in Kabul on January 19, 2026, for which IS-K claimed responsibility, Kulov noted that “this indicates that Afghan territory is being used as a base for attacks not only on neighboring countries but also on global players.”
He also added that concerns about the situation in Afghanistan have been raised at CSTO and SCO forums.
Kulov remarked that under the current conditions, the decisions of the President of Kyrgyzstan regarding strengthening defense capabilities, modernizing the army, and reforming law enforcement agencies are not only relevant but also vitally necessary.
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