Following the attack on the Supreme Court in Kabul this week, which was claimed by Daesh, a number of government officials and analysts on Thursday said they are concerned about the increase in activities by the insurgent group in the country – particularly in the northern provinces.

Sar-e-Pul governor Mohammad Zahir Wahdat said Daesh activities will threaten security in his province if government does not take action.

“Daesh threatens areas between Jawzjan and Sar-e-Pul provinces and they killed six staff members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (on Wednesday). The threats will increase if the Afghan government and the international community do not pay attention to this matter,” he said.

Reports indicate that Daesh first started its activities in Nangarhar.

A number of military affairs analysts said Daesh will become a serious threat if its activities are not stopped.

“They [Daesh fighters] mostly consist of insurgents from Central Asia and they are recruiting in Afghanistan using people’s poverty. Their recruiting process is easy because of the poverty,” said Mirza Mohammad Yarmand, former deputy minister of interior.

The Ministry of Defense spokesman Dawlat Waziri meanwhile said: “Daesh has not gained power in Afghanistan. It has been defeated. They have been defeated in Helmand, Farah, Zabul, Uruzgan and Nangarhar.”

But the number of Daesh fighters has been estimated to be between 2,500 and 3,000 and according to NATO figures, the majority of insurgents affiliated to Daesh are foreign nationals.