Contrary to reports, Acehnese officials insist the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria ( ISIS ) has no foothold in the autonomous Indonesian province.

Security forces found no traces of ISIS within Aceh 's boundaries and will continue policing the region to keep it free of extremists, provincial government spokesman Murthalamuddin told Khabar Southeast Asia.

"Aceh has never tolerated radical Islamic movements," he said. "While we enforce sharia , never in our history have we embraced the radical credo." Still, he did concede some Acehnese might sympathise with ISIS's desire to establish a Middle Eastern caliphate .

Gustav Leo, regional police force spokesman, rejected a local news report suggesting an Acehnese branch of ISIS had formed in January.

"Investigations by various intelligence networks monitoring potential radical groups did not identify the presence of ISIS in Aceh," Gustav told Khabar. "The police have taken earlier anticipatory steps through co-operation with the Government of Aceh and the clerics."

"If it is just claims in the media, anyone can do it. What is certain is that investigations by various intelligence networks found no evidence."

The "blood of fighters"

Serambi Indonesia, Aceh's largest daily, published an interview in August with Abu Jundullah, whom the newspaper identified as a spokesman for a group calling itself ISIS of Aceh.

Abu claimed 1,000 people had sworn their allegiance to ISIS and that a jihadist network that fought in Afghanistan, Ambon and the Southern Philippines was recruiting new members.

"We believe that there are a lot of Acehnese people who carry the spirit of mujahideen because Acehnese blood is the blood of fighters and defenders of the truth," Abu told Serambi in the article. "All members of ISIS of Aceh consist of no one from outside Aceh because we are not subject to the ISIS of Indonesia, led by Abu Muhammad al-Indonesi .

"ISIS of Aceh is under the direct command of the highest caliph, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi ."

Al Chaidar, a University of Malikussaleh terrorism expert, believes ISIS is present in Aceh.

A number of suspects linked to ISIS who were arrested in Java recently have links to Aceh, according to Al Chaidar. "They also conducted military training in the mountains of Jalin before they were raided by the police," he said, referring to a mountain range in Aceh Besar Regency.

"Abu Muhammad Al-Indonesi, who appeared in a video inviting jihad on YouTube, is an alumnus of the Jalin training camp," he told Khabar.