ISIL Militants Setting Their Sites on Afghanistan

ISIL adherers have expanded their presence into Afghanistan and taken control of some of the state’s territories, according to local and international authorities.

It is not clear yet if emerging factions acting in the group’s name and copying its tactics are directly linked to ISIL in Iraq and Syria.

Brutal clashes have emerged  ISIL and the Taliban in Nangarhar province, one of the first serious bases for the ISIL adherents in Afghanistan, a UN report stated.

In a recent video, released by ISIL loyalists in August, a group of alleged Taliban supporters were cruelly executed after being forced to kneel on top of explosives. Afghan parliament member Hazrat Ali claimed the video was authentic, and that the execution occurred in one ofNangarhar's districts.

"Daesh in Nangarhar is growing and getting stronger compared with a couple of months ago," said Nangarhar MP Zahi Qadir, using an alternative acronym for the group.

Analysts say that ISIL and Taliban militant groups in Afghanistan are mainly fighting for resources like gold and especially opium.

Currently, there’s no consistent strategy developed by Kabul authorities to cope with the new increasing threat.