PESHAWAR: Inspector General of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Nasir Khan Durrani said on Tuesday said presence of the self-styled Islamic State cannot be ignored in KP.

"It is wrong to say IS does not have a presence in KP," said Durrani.

Read: IS-inspired suspected militants arrested in Peshawar

“IS’s presence in Pakistan is not a new a phenomenon, members who belonged to the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have switched sides in some cases,” said the top police official of KP.

But Durrani assured that the situation was under control.

"Frequency of terrorist attacks has witnessed a noticeable drop in comparison to the last four years, which is due to concentrated efforts by the army and law enforcement agencies," said Durrani.

Read: Govt to use Daesh, not IS, as terror group’s name

Earlier this month, KP police had arrested three suspected militants said to be inspired by IS. The raid was conducted while acting on an intelligence tip-off.

Also read: Islamic State a serious threat to Pakistan, foreign secretary admits

Also in January this year, security forces had arrested a man they believed was the commander of IS in the country as well as two accomplices involved in recruiting and sending fighters to Syria.

Pakistani officials have always denied the existence of the group in the country, but have said they are on alert against its emergence. A number of extremist groups in the country have expressed their loyalty with the group which is trying to establish a foothold in Afghanistan.

The Pakistan Army has killed more than 2,700 militants during Operation Zarb-i-Azb in North Waziristan since June last year, following a deadly attack on Karachi's Jinnah International Airport, destroying more than 800 of their hideouts.