Kabul (AFP) — A massive spike in millions of migrants forced back into impoverished Afghanistan by Pakistan and Iran could fuel Islamic State militancy, diplomatic and security sources fear.

Around 2.6 million Afghans have returned since January, including many who have spent decades abroad or who are setting foot in Afghanistan for the first time.

“The risk that Islamic State Khorasan sees these newly arrived Afghans as a potential recruitment pool is high,” Hans-Jakob Schindler, a former coordinator of the UN committee monitoring militant groups, told AFP.

Security in Afghanistan has vastly improved since the Taliban won their insurgency against the Nato-backed government and returned to power in 2021.

However, the local branch of Islamic State — a rival jihadist group with a foothol

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