Russia May Face Terrorist Attacks In Connection With Anti-Terrorist Operation In Afghanistan

Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council Colonel General Valentin Sobolev believes that "Russia's participation in the anti-terrorist operation in Afghanistan has dramatically increased the risk of terrorist attacks on its territory." Mr. Sobolev spoke at the inter-ministry scientific and practical conference "Security at Russian Federation's Boundaries in the Context of the Current Events" in Moscow on Wednesday. According to Mr. Sobolev, currently, over 500 terrorist organisations and groups are operating in various countries of the world; and this number is growing. He stressed that anthrax cases in the United States confirm that weapons of mass destruction can get in terrorists' hands. Mr. Sobolev pointed out the qualitative change in terrorist strategies. Terrorists are now attaining political goals by attracting great numbers of kamikaze to carry out terrorist attacks. Mr. Sobolev said that the main threat to Russia's border security is drug trafficking and illegal immigration. In his words, the anti-terrorist operation in Afghanistan has not ended the inflow of drugs from Afghanistan to Russia and Europe. He also said that in the first six months of this year, over 1,200 drug traders from 37 countries were detained in Russia. Speaking on illegal immigration, Mr. Sobolev highlighted that according to various estimates, about 1.5 to 4.5 million foreign citizens are living illegally in Russia.