7 killed as Taliban, Daesh clash in Nangarhar, Jawzjan

JALALABAD/SHIBERGHAN (Pajhwok): Four Taliban and three Daesh fighters have been killed during clashes between the rival militant groups in eastern Nangarhar and northern Jawzjan provinces, officials said Wednesday.

Col. Abdul Hafiz Khashi, Jawzjan police chief, said two Taliban gunmen were killed by Daesh militants in Qatarsom village of Qush Tepa district when they were passing the area.

He said the slain persons, Mohammad Zahir and Nasratullah, were loyal to Maulvi Nasrat Taliban group and were killed by Daesh-affiliated Qari Hikmat group.

Daesh militants seized weapons from the two rivals and transferred them to Chaqma Chaqoor village.

However, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed the fighters had not been killed by Daesh but they were killed during a clash with Afghan Local Police (ALP) personnel in the area.

Elsewhere, three Daesh militants and two Taliban fighters were killed in infighting in Haska Mena district of Nangarhar province.

The district chief, Haji Sazwali, said there had been infighting between the insurgent groups over the past two days.

The clashes left three Daesh militants dead and two others wounded. Two Taliban were also killed.

“Currently the fighting has stopped for a while, but both sides are preparing and making strongholds and the war may restart again.”

According to another report, a 45-member Daehs group leader, Shahid Umar, has been killed in an airstrike in Achin district of Nangarhar.

Nangarhar governor’s spokesman, Attaullah Khogyani, said the airstrike targeted the Daesh leader in Pikha area of the district at around 11am on Wednesday. Shahid Umar was a resident of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan and was involved in destructive activities in Achin district, he said.

sns/ma