Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the presence of ISIL fighters in Helmand Province in Afghanistan since the withdrawal of British troops; and what assessment they have made of expressions of support for ISIL by some groups in Afghanistan.

We are aware of recent media reports suggesting that elements of the insurgency in parts of Afghanistan, including Helmand, have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Alongside our international partners we continue to monitor the situation as part of our close cooperation on security matters with the Afghan government.