ISIS militants are gaining ground in Afghanistan, UN report claims
ISIS has been trying to establish itself in Afghanistan, resulting in a bitter and violent battle against the Taliban for supremecy of the Islamist insurgency in the war-torn country.
However, the terror group are said to be succeeding in their intrusion and have reportedly recruited followers in over three quarters of Afghanistan's provinces.
As well as making large steps in the conflict-ridden area, ISIS are also said to have sympathisers consisting of around 10 per cent of the Taliban insurgency, according to the UN report.
The report said: "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 terror around are understood to have around 70 fighters from Iraq and Syria forming their Afghanistan branch.
Since establishing the division back in January, sightings of groups "with some form of ISIL branding" or sympathy have been reported in 25 of the 34 provinces in the troubled country.
The terror group have gained control of a large amount of provinces in Afghanistan
ISIS have been in a self-declared war with the Taliban
The report added that ISIS-backed groups "regularly engage" with Afghan military forces, however fighting with other parts of the insurgency are said to be rare.
In recent months, prominent fighters who had close ties to the Taliban and Al Qaeda have reportedly changed loyalties to ISIS.
Abdul Rauf Khadem, a former Taliban adviser to Mullah Omar, became the founder of an ISIS branch in the Helmand and Farah provinces and reportedly recruits followers with large sums of money.
Meanwhile foreign fighters from Pakistan and Uzbekistan, some associated to Al Qaeda, are also said to have "rebranded themselves" under the wing of ISIS militant, the report said.
It added that Afghan security authorities are labelling the situation as a "potential new threat" but are not considering immediate action.
The areas which are, or face the threat of becoming, under ISIS control
The latest conflict came just weeks after ISIS were condemned by the Taliban for releasing a video showing hostages being blown up with explosives.
Reportedly filmed in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar in June, the "horrific" footage apparently shows ISIS fighters brutally murdering a group of blindfolded tribal elders and villagers.
It describes the kidnapped group as "apostates" who have been captured following a battle between ISIS fighters, the Taliban and Afghan government forces.
A statement posted on the Taliban's website read: "A horrific video was released yesterday showing kidnappers who associate themselves with Daesh (ISIS) brutally martyring several white-bearded tribal elders and villagers with explosives."
ISIS first declared their Islamic State in Afghanistan and Pakistan on 26 January this year when rebelling Taliban commanders swore allegiance to leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
The Taliban have since rallied against the threat of ISIS by refusing to join their so-called 'Caliphate' and writing a 60-page letter warning them to leave their land.
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