Radical Islam followers from Europe, Central Asia fight for Syrian militants - Bortnikov
SOCHI. April 9 (Interfax) - Federal Security Service Director Alexander Bortnikov has reaffirmed the global nature of terrorism threats.
"The terrorism threat became global a rather long time ago. Although the core of Al Qaeda has reduced its activity, associated militant groups demonstrate the capacity for autonomous and aggressive actions," Bortnikov said on Wednesday in Krasnaya Polyana, Sochi, at the 13th conference of chiefs of foreign security services and law enforcement agencies - partners of the Federal Security Service.
The armed conflict in Syria has galvanized into action destructive forces throughout the Middle East, the Russian counterintelligence chief stated.
"Local rings are being joined by radical Islam followers from Europe, Central Asia, the South Caucasus and Russia. They are trained in special camps and engage in the hostilities. The return of persons experienced in sabotage and the creation of covert organizations to their countries of origin leads to the spread and actualization of the terrorism threat," Bortnikov said.
A complex situation is taking shape in the Afghan-Pakistani zone where terrorist groups, primarily the Taliban, the Turkestan Islamic Party and the Pakistani Taliban, have lately bolstered their combat potential, he noted.
The forthcoming partial pullout of coalition forces from Afghanistan builds up the threat of destabilization in neighboring countries, Bortnikov said.
"International Islamic militant groups have become active in some of these countries, primarily, in Central Asia," the FSB chief said.