Russia is worried that the Islamic State terror group is gaining strength fast in northern Afghanistan.  

Speaking at a press conference, Russian top diplomat Sergei Lavrov on July 2 that the Islamic State terror group is actively building up forces in northern Afghanistan as the United States and NATO troops are leaving the country.  

He noted that ISIS has a tactically significant presence in the country. 

“Those in Afghanistan’s governing structures who are in every way possible trying to drag out this process should consider the consequences of these actions for their nation,” Lavrov was cited as saying by Interfax news agency.

Lavrov was also critical of what he termed the hasty withdrawal of NATO troops, which he said was being done before the country was in a proper position to secure itself.

In these conditions, ISIS is actively capturing territory, primarily in northern Afghanistan, right on the border with countries that are our allies, Russian foreign minister said.

“We are certainly trying to sensitize political circles about the need to stop dragging out the negotiation process to form an interim transitional brokered by a so-called extended “troika” comprising Russia, China, the United States and Pakistan,” Russian top diplomat was cited as saying by TASS news agency. 

This comes amidst a sharp rise in Taliban attacks in northern Afghanistan where they have captured dozens of districts.