Taliban launch operation to root out Islamic State from Afghanistan

Kabul, Oct 9 (EFE).- Several Islamic State militants have died in a Taliban operation, an official said Friday, to eliminate the global terror network that has posed a grave security challenge to the government of the hardline Islamist militia in Afghanistan.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for recent deadly attacks in Afghanistan and has demonstrated its capability to carry out strikes like the Aug.26 bombing at the Kabul airport that killed 170 people.

Taliban spokesperson Bilal Karimi said the operation against Islamic State fighters was ongoing in at least four of the 34 Afghan provinces.

The group owned the attacks that killed several civilians and Taliban men in Kabul, Kunar, Nangarhar, and Parwan provinces.

“We hope we to root them out soon and eliminate the(m) from the country,” Karimi told EFE.

Karimi said they have arrested tens of Islamic State fighters and killed “tens of others” in the military operation.

“Our forces are destroying their sleeping cells and hideouts to prevent their future plans,” Karimi said about the operations which have been going on for the past several days against the group.

The Afghan branch of the Islamic State earlier claimed responsibility for an attack in Kabul targeting Taliban members that left at least two people dead on Oct.4.

The militant network said it carried out other attacks over the past few days “in various regions of Afghanistan, causing severe losses in the ranks of the (Taliban) militia.”

Afghanistan continues to be racked by violence since the Taliban swept back into power on Aug.15.

At least five people, including a child, were killed and two wounded in an attack on Oct.2 near a market in the eastern province of Nangarhar, an Islamic stronghold in the Asian country.

Ten civilians lost their lives in three attacks in Nangarhar province in mid-September. EFE

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