KABUL - The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group does not pose a strategic threat to Afghanistan, a senior NATO official said Monday.

The official further added that both the Afghan government and the NATO take the issue regarding the alleged emergence of the terror group in Afghanistan as “very seriously”.

The remark by the NATO official comes as there have been growing concerns among the Afghans regarding the growing activities by the affiliates of the terror group to gain a foothold in Afghanistan.

The social media have been rife with posts published by the pro-ISIS activists recently, which suggests the involvement of the terror group’s affiliates in atrocities, allegedly committed in Afghanistan.

Pentagon in a report released last week said “ISIL’s presence and influence in Afghanistan remains in the initial exploratory phase.”

The report further added “The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan has publicly expressed support for ISIL as the leader of the global jihad; however, the Taliban has declared that it will not allow ISIL in Afghanistan.”

The United States of Department also released a report earlier this week also said “The Government of Afghanistan takes the threat of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) seriously. There were some reports of ISIL engaging Afghan insurgent groups to obtain allegiance in exchange for resources.”

“In September, an ISIL newspaper in Dari and Pashto was reportedly distributed in Kabul and Nangarhar provinces promoting extremist ideology,” the report said.

The report also added “In late October, pro-ISIL graffiti was discovered at Kabul University, sparking fear that extremist youth groups may latch onto ISIL messaging.”

“On November 15, a suspected ISIL agent who had allegedly posted pamphlets at the Blue Mosque in Herat City was detained in Herat,” the report said.

According to the report, ISIL ideology may resonate with fringe elements of insurgent/terrorist groups in Afghanistan, but for the most part Afghanistan-based militants were resistant to fully aligning themselves with the group.

“ISIL will likely continue to engage Afghan insurgent and terrorist groups. Small numbers of independent actors that are loosely-affiliated with ISIL may continue to use ISIL’s name to gain public and media attention in Afghanistan,” the report said. (KP)