Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation Gennady Kuzmin briefed the UN Security Council on the expansion of ISIL in Afghanistan.

Mr Kuzmin said:” ISIL militants take active steps to turn Afghanistan into a springboard that would let them penetrate other States of the region. The backbone of the terrorist entity counts no less than 4 thousand militants who are mostly based in provinces Kunar and Nangarhār. Besides, ISIL is active in northern and eastern regions of the Republic.

Elsewhere he added that ” ISIL broadly recruit young people, employ field commanders from the local and regional terrorist formations, i.a. from Taliban and “Hizb ut-Tahrir”; they also accept militants from combat zones in the Middle East.”

“The situation is the most dangerous in the areas close to the border of Afghanistan with Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, where the number of ISIL members is about 1.3 thousand people. In addition, ISIL seeks to extend its presence in the North and East of the country at the cost of regions that have traditionally been controlled by Taliban,” he went on saying.

Later on he added that “unfortunately, ISIL continues to receive funds from external sponsors who act under the guise of charity foundations, religious organizations, and other non-governmental bodies.”

Arezo News Website – Humayun Salimi