IS cells operate under nose of Afghan, US forces

KABUL: Middle-class Afghans-turned-jihadists have assisted the Islamic State group´s expansion from its stronghold in Afghanistan´s restive east to Kabul, analysts say, helping to make the capital one of the deadliest places in the country.

The IS has claimed nearly 20 attacks across Kabul in 18 months, with cells including students, professors and shopkeepers evading Afghan and US security forces to bring carnage to the highly fortified city. It is an alarming development for Kabul´s war-weary civilians and beleaguered security forces, who are already struggling to beat back the resurgent Taliban, as well as for the US counterterrorism mission in Afghanistan.

"This is not just a group that has a rural bastion in eastern Afghanistan, it is staging high-casualty, high-visibility attacks in the nation´s capital and I think that´s something to be worried about," said analyst Michael Kugelman of the Wilson Center in Washington.