Amid growing concerns over Islamic State in Iraq and Levant’s (ISIL) growing influence in the region after pamphlets were found near the site of an attack on a bus in Karachi, the US State Department said on Thursday that connections between the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria and Pakistan or South Asia rhetorical.

During the daily press briefing, Press Office Director Jeff Rathke was asked about concerns regarding ISIL’s capabilities.

“In general terms, we certainly are concerned about the possibility of ISIL influence spreading.”

On an IS affiliate claiming responsibility for Wednesday’s attacks, Rathke said that so far they did not believe there was any operational linkage between groups.

“Up until now, our estimation has been that these are primarily of a rhetorical nature, not of an operational linkage between ISIL in Iraq and Syria and Pakistan or South Asia.”

He refused to comment on the details of the attack as an investigation is underway led by the Pakistani authorities.

US offers aid to probe attack on Ismaili community in Karachi

WASHINGTON: The United States Thursday offered to help Pakistan investigate the deadly attack on a bus in Karachi which left 45 Ismailis dead, in the first assault in the country on the minority community.

“We will support efforts to bring all those responsible to justice and stand ready to provide assistance to the investigation of this tragic attack,” US Secretary of State John Kerry said.

Pistol-wielding gunmen had stormed the bus carrying members of the Ismaili community on Wednesday.

The claims by the Islamic State (IS) militants, posted on Twitter, are likely to raise fears over the Middle East-based militants’ growing influence after they announced in January the creation of a branch in what they called “Khorasan province”, encompassing Afghanistan, Pakistan and parts of surrounding countries.

US Secretary of State John Kerry condemned what he called a “heinous attack,” adding the “American people stand in solidarity with the people of Pakistan.”

“Make no mistake: There is more strength by far in the respect and solidarity that we feel towards one another than there could ever be in any terrorist attack,” he added in a statement.

Kerry offered his condolences to the victims and their families as well as “the Aga Khan, who has led the Ismaili community in investing in so many important development and education projects not only in Pakistan, but around the world.”

On Thursday, Kerry was taking part in a summit at Camp David with Gulf leaders called by President Barack Obama in part to coordinate efforts to combat IS, which has captured large areas of Iraq and Syria.