Campbell

Khaama Press
December 15, 2015

The loyalists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group are attempting to establish a regional base in Jalalabad, the capital city of eastern Nangarhar province.

In an interview with The Associated Press, the commander of the US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, Gen. John Campbell, said foreign militants from Syria and Iraq had joined the loyalists of the terror group in eastern Nangarhar province.

Gen. Campbell further added that the loyalists of the terror group in Afghanistan are also trying to consolidate links with the leadership of the terror group based in Syria and Iraq.

He did not comment regarding the exact number of the foreign fighters who have joined the loyalists of ISIS terror group in Afghanistan.

But his remarks comes as a report was reportedly released by the United Nations late in the month of September this year, stating the terror group is making inroads in Afghanistan with the number of sympathizers and followers growing across the country.

The report further added that the group is recruiting followers in at least 25 provinces of Afghanistan with 10 percent of the sympathizers belonging to the Taliban group.

“The number of groups and individuals who are openly declaring either loyalty to or sympathy with ISIL continues to grow in a number of provinces in Afghanistan,” the report said.

The report also added that around 70 militants of the terror group are busy in forming the core of the group’s branch in Afghanistan which was initially formed by Abdul Rauf Khadem after visiting Iraq in 2014.

Khadem was the former Taliban adviser to Mullah Mohammad Omar and reportedly formed his own group in southern Helmand and western Farah provinces.