Special to WorldTribune.com

The Afghan affiliate of Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) has become “operationally active,” launching attacks on Afghan security forces while also battling the Taliban for territory, the Pentagon reported on Dec. 15.

The affiliate, known as Khorasan Province (IS-KP), has recruited more jihadists and increased its presence in Afghanistan since June and “has progressed from its initial exploratory phase to a point where they are openly fighting the Taliban for the establishment of a safe haven,” the Pentagon report said.

Gen. John Campbell, commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, told The Associated Press on Dec. 15 that ISIL’s allies in Afghanistan are attempting to establish a regional base in the eastern city of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, which borders Pakistan.

According to the Pentagon report, IS-KP claimed responsibility for an IED attack against a United Nations vehicle in September and carried out attacks later that month against as many as 10 checkpoints.

The report said the ISIL affiliate is growing by recruiting “disaffected Taliban” among others drawn to the terror organization’s drive for a “caliphate.”

Campbell said IS-KP does not “have the capability right now to attack Europe, or attack the homeland, the United States. But that’s what they want to do, they’ve said that’s what they want to do.”

The U.S. currently has about 9,800 troops in Afghanistan.

The report came after President Barack Obama, in an address at the Pentagon on Dec. 14, said “we are squeezing its (ISIL’s) heart and making it harder for them to pump out its propaganda.”

  Gen. John Campbell, Khorasan Province, Pentagon: ISIL affiliate in Afghanistan has gone from ‘exploratory’ to ‘active’, WorldTribune.com