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Moscow says ISIL more interested in Central Asia, not Afghanistan

30 September 2016 10:11 (UTC +04:00)

Baku – APA. The Islamic State (IS, known as ISIL, ISIS, Daesh) terrorist group maintains greater interest in Central Asia than in Afghanistan, but it has little capabilities to reach the region at the moment, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Syromolotov said, Sputnik International reported.

"ISIL comes to Afghanistan and says it is not actually interested in Afghanistan. Their interests lie across the river in Central Asia. Why? Because according to some estimates, up to 50-60 percent of IS militants are citizens of Central Asia, North Caucasus and, accordingly, they want to move forward. But presently they do not have enough potential to do so," said Syromolotov.

The diplomat observed that some areas in Afghanistan see the Daesh fight for resources with the entrenched Taliban insurgency in the country that was until recently used as a recruitment base for the terrorist group banned in countries including Russia.