Daesh, Taliban driven from several Nangarhar villages

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Security officials in eastern Nangarhar province on Tuesday claimed driving Islamic State and Taliban militants from several villages in Chaparhar and Batikot districts.

The villages in Chaparhar --- Ghulam Dak, Trili, Gazak, Ghazo, London and Tawhidabad --- were cleared of the presence of Daesh and Taliban insurgents during an Afghan National Army-led operation, said Col. Mohammad Karim Niazai, the 201st Selab Military Crops commander.

He told Pajhwok Afghan News a number of Daesh rebels suffered causalities during the operation, but exact figure was not known.

Also in Batikot district, several villages were cleared of insurgents’ presence and the process to equip and support uprising forces were underway, said 201 Selab Military Corps spokesman Col. Sherin Aqa Faqiri.

Meanwhile, Ashab Wali Muslim, a member of the provincial council, said clearing operations had often failed because the rebels staged a comeback after security forces withdrew from the captured areas.

pk/ma