Afghanistan: Eight Islamic State fighters killed in raid by Taliban

The Taliban administration of Afghanistan reported that eight members of the Islamic State militant group were killed and several others were detained following raids the insurgent group conducted in the country. The raids follow recent attacks in the country, especially in the capital Kabul.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Thursday that the insurgent group carried out raids in Kabul and Nimroz the day before targeted Islamic State members that organized the recent attacks on the Longan Hotel in the capital, the Pakistani embassy, and the Kabul military airport. Eight Islamic State fighters, as well as foreign nationals, were killed, seven others were arrested during the Kabul raid, while two more Islamic State members were arrested in the Nimroz raid.

“These members had a main role in the attack on the hotel and paved the way for foreign members to come to Afghanistan,” tweeted Mujahid.

This follows the Islamic State’s claim of responsibility for a bombing at a checkpoint in the Kabul military airport on Sunday. The militant group said the blast at the airport was carried out by someone who also participated in the attack at the hotel back in December. The group also published the photo of the assailant, identifying the man as Abdul Jabbar, and said that Jabbar withdrew from the attack on the hotel after running out of ammunition.

Mujahid said that during the raids, the insurgent group found light weapons, hand grenades, mines, vests, and explosives in the Islamic State group’s hideout in the Shahdai Salehin neighborhood in Kabul.

The raids also follow the allegation by the Pakistani defense minister that terrorist groups are trying to attack Pakistan from Afghanistan. Pakistani defense minister Khwaja Asif told a news channel on Monday that armed groups are engaging in cross-border terrorism by launching attacks on Pakistan on Afghan soil.

The Taliban issued a sharp rebuke to Asif’s allegations including the statement from the Pakistani National Security Committee that warned that “no country will be allowed to provide sanctuaries to terrorists.” Mujahid said Afghanistan wants good relations with its neighboring countries, including Pakistan. Mujahid also said that Pakistan must “refrain” from making baseless accusations.