Number Of IS Terrorists In Afghanistan Triples Since 2016 To 6,000 - Russian Military

YEKATERINBURG (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th May, 2019) The number of militants of the Islamic State terrorist group (IS, banned in Russia) in Afghanistan has tripled since 2016, while the terrorist activities of the Taliban movement in the country have increased by 30% since the start of 2019, Commander of Russia's Central Military District Col. Gen. Alexander Lapin said Wednesday.

"The situation in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate. The country may become a new refuge not only for IS terrorists, but also for other terrorist organizations, from where they will travel throughout the Eurasian continent," Lapin said at a meeting with defense industry officials.

"In Afghanistan, the number of IS terrorists has increased threefold compared to 2016, while the Taliban's terrorist activity has increased by 30 percent compared to the same period of 2018," Lapin said Lapin.

According to the general, there are almost 6,000 IS terrorists at present in Afghanistan, while in 2016 there were only 1,900.