KABUL – After eliminating Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) or Daesh’s commandand control centre in Jowzjan province, the Afghan Taliban have decided tolaunch massive offensive against the dreaded group in eastern Nangaharprovince which is considered a strong base of IS-K in Afghanistan.
Taliban were able to seize the IS-K controlled areas and destroy theircommand and control centre in the Sardara area of restive Darzab districtin Jowzjan province following 24 days of intense fighting.
The IS-K commander for northern Afghanistan, Maulvi Habibur Rahman Rehbar,his deputy, commanders and nearly 250 fighters including foreign militantssurrendered to government forces after suffering defeat by the hands ofTaliban in Jowzjan.
A Taliban official who wished not to be named told Afghan Islamic Pressthat the Taliban are planning to launch offensives in areas of Nangharharprovince where the Daesh has strong bases and command and control centre.
He said the Taliban have been monitoring the operations of Daesh from thevery first day but their attacks increased recently, especially againstcivilians.
“The crimes and brutalities of this group have reached to its peak. Theyare targeting public places, schools, education institutions, places ofworship of minorities and the nation. The Islamic Emirate has decided totake serious steps against this group,” the Taliban officials said.
He continued that the Taliban have made full preparations and trained andarmed fighters have reached Nangarhar from Kandahar, Helmand, Uruzgan andother provinces, adding 1200 Taliban fighters would took part in thedecisive action against Daesh.
Replay to a question that Taliban had also conducted operation againstDaesh in Nangarhar in the past but failed to eliminate their centres, theTaliban official said “The Islamic Emirate’s mujahideen are equipped withall kind of heavy, light and laser weapons and well aware of the wartactics used during clashes with Daesh in Jowzjan. They have enough warexperience. Car bomb and fidayee attacks would also be conducted whenneeded. We would not allow the Afghan nation could be sacrificed foroutsiders’ projects and suppressed.”
Another source divulged to AIP that Taliban shadow commander for Nangarhar,Mullah Nasrullah, among numerous Taliban leaders are based in Nangarhar andengaged in planning and consultations to launch offensive against Daesh.
The source, however, said the date and time of launching the operation hasnot yet been decided.
It is worth mentioning here that the Taliban have ordered closing mobilephone network in the remote districts of Nangahar province from afternoonto morning so that they might not be targeted.
Before Jowzjan, the Taliban also conducted operations against Daesh inLaghman and also engaged in fighting against the group in Kunar province.
The might be sent packing from Afghanistan, the Taliban were able to defeatthem in Nangarhar province.