MOSCOW, October 8. /TASS/. The number of militants fighting on the side of Islamic State in Afghanistan has reached 3,500 over the space of a year, the Russian president’s envoy for Afghanistan said on Thursday.

"Islamic State, rising in Afghanistan, presents a paramount danger," said Zamir Kabulov, director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Second Department for Asia.

"Just think about it — IS actually appeared in Afghanistan a year ago and already has 3,500 under arms, plus sympathizers who may quickly switch sides to join the militants."

IS tactics in Afghanistan were the same as in Iraq, Syria, Libya and in certain other African states, he said.

"They find in a province the most authoritative person who has rivals, offering co-operation and assistance in doing away with the rivals. Once this has been done, he is destroyed, and the whole region, province or bigger area fall into the hands of Islamic State," Kabulov added.

"In this ‘creeping’ manner, Islamic State expands its sphere of influence practically, without war," he noted.