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IS 'operationally emergent' in Afghanistan says US military official

WASHINGTON, Feb 11 (KUNA) -- The so-called Islamic State is "operationally emergent" in Afghanistan due to its "low-level recruiting and propaganda" in various parts of the country said Deputy Chief of Staff of Communications to the Resolute Support Mission Wilson Shoffner.
"What we're not seeing is Daesh (another name for IS) having the ability from either Iraq or Syria to orchestrate operations in Afghanistan," said Shoffner to reporters on Thursday.
He characterized IS presence in Afghanistan as "very, very low level activity, with the exception of the east." In the eastern province of Nangarhar, the terrorist group has "attempted" to establish a "base of operations" where Afghan and US forces have "increased pressure" on them, said Shoffner.
"Daesh, currently, is contained largely to four or five districts in the southern part of Nangarhar province... It's very rugged, it has been an insurgent safe haven for many, many years, and it continues to be," he said.
With an estimated of 1,000 to 3,000 IS members present in the eastern part of Afghanistan, the US believes IS has recruited some former members of the Taliban.
"I can tell you that, ideologically, Daesh does not resonate with most people in Afghanistan," said Hoffner. (end) ak.ibi