Pakistan military says it foiled ISIS expansion into the country

Pakistan: Pakistan's military on Thursday said it has foiled attempt by Islamic State ISIS to expand into the country. The announcement were an unusual acknowledgement by a senior Pakistani official that Islamic State has had any active presence in a country that is home to countless militant groups including Taliban, al-Qaeda and the Haqqani network.

Pakistani top military spokesman Lieutenant General Asim Bajwa also rejected claims by the US that it was not acting against the Haqqani network, suspected of carrying out suicide bomb attacks in Kabul, adding that Pakistan was pursuing an "indiscriminate operation" against all militants.

Bajwa said that authorities have so far arrested 309 people in connection with Islamic State (IS) on its territory.

He added that most of those arrested were renowned Pakistani jihadists who had switched allegiance to ISIS's self-proclaimed worldwide caliphate, with about 25 of them were foreigners including Afghans and some Syrians.

Of a core group of 20 organisers, "we have captured all of them, except for one who I am sure is not in Pakistan," Bajwa said.

Bajwa said IS fighters were still present in the Afghan provinces of Nangarhar, Khost and Kunar, which lie along the border with Pakistan.

Bajwa also released figures on progress in its anti-militant operation, saying that more than 3500 militants has been killed adding that 516 Pakistani soldiers had also been killed with 2272 injured.

"We have paid $US106.9 billion (on) this war ... If anyone points a finger at Pakistan or casts an eye of suspicion on Pakistan, they need to know this cost," said Bajwa.