Dushanbe, 26.03.2016 (NIAT “Khovar”). The Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization is expanding its military activity in Afghanistan, Russian Presidential Envoy to Afghanistan, director of the Second Asian Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry Zamir Kabulov said on Friday.

«The IS activity has grown significantly in Afghanistan since summer 2014,» Kabulov said. «The group numerical strength is estimated at 10,000 people.»

«The figure can continue growing, as the IS slogans and high financing are attractive to Afghan youth,» he said.

Kabul’s attempts to establish a peaceful dialogue with the Taliban have been fruitless

The Afghan government’s attempts to establish a peaceful dialogue with the Taliban through the world community’s mediation have so far been fruitless, Zamir Kabulov, the Russian president’s special envoy for Afghanistan and director of the Russian Foreign Ministry second Asian department, told TASS.

«For the moment, the situation in Afghanistan can be described as extremely tense and unstable with no prospects for radical improvement in sight,» Kabulov said.

«Militants from the Taliban movement are using huge forces for direct clashes against the government troops; they are seizing entire districts and intensifying terror attacks in major administrative centers, including Kabul,» the Russian diplomat said.

This year has seen no traditional seasonal «winter lull» in military hostilities, which were incessantly under way in the north and south of Afghanistan,» the Russian president’s special envoy said.

«The armed opposition is expected to step up combat activities across the country with the coming of spring. In fact, this phase has already started,» Kabulov told TASS.

According to him, the situation in Afghanistan’s Northern provinces has been rapidly degrading.

«The militants are getting entrenched in territories and populated localities bordering on Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, naturally, inciting tensions on both sides of the border,» Kabulov stressed.