IS group strength reaches 400 in Farah

FARAH CITY (Pajhwok): The strength of gunmen claiming allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group increased from 80 to 400 persons over the past one and a half months in the Khak-i-Safed district of western Farah province, the district chief said on Tuesday.

Abdul Khaliq Noorzai told Pajhwok Afghan News the “Daesh group” had established a training camp in Mazar Kala area, where they had hoisted black flags.

Local officials say the group is running another training camp in the district’s Jar-i-Shirkhash area.

A majority of the group members are said to be residents of Farah, but they also include fighters from Pakistan’s North Waziristan tribal region, Arabs and others. The foreigners are funding and training new recruits.

Farah police chief Col. Dil Jan Khakrezi confirmed the IS had launched operations in the province. He said Daesh members received military training from 25 foreigners and from 100 to 500 Taliban militants had defected to the group.

Khakrezi said he could not order action against the group on his own and high authorities should make a decision in this regard.

Defence Ministry’s deputy spokesman Gen. Daulat Waziri said security organs were preparing a joint plan to eliminate the threat posed by the group.

hs/ma

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