NEW YORK (UN). Nov 21 (Interfax) - ISIL, a terrorist group banned in Russia, has been strengthening in Afghanistan, and in fact its strength in Afghanistan has grown to 10,000 men, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya said at a plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly on the Afghanistan situation.
"The Afghan branch of ISIL, which, according to our estimates, has grown to 10,000 men, is also strengthening its position," Nebenzya said.
"The group is being reinforced primarily by international fighters battle-hardened in Syria and Iraq who are being transferred to Afghanistan," he said.
Nebenzya called UN member countries' attention to "indications of external support for ISIL via unmarked helicopters."