In a major reversal to Pakistan backed Taliban, the Afghan forces in Helmand and Kandahar province managed to eliminate over 150 Pakistan terrorists operating in Afghanistan according to information released by the Afghan interior affairs ministry Sunday (November 15).
In a press conference, the interior affairs ministry’s spokesman Tariq Arian said, “At least 55 Taliban commanders have been killed in Helmand and Kandahar provinces in Afghan forces operations in response to their attacks and 152 Pakistani fighters were killed in Helmand,”.
Taliban which is in midst of peace negotiation with the democratically elected Afghan government had launched a series of attacks on the Afghan security forces in the last few months.
Also, a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) report states that around 6,500 Pakistan terrorists are operating in Afghanistan most of them belonging to the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
A report published by the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team concerning ISIS, al-Qaida and associated jihadist entities stated that the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a “large terrorist group present in Afghanistan”, has claimed responsibility for various high-profile attacks in Pakistan and has facilitated others by Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and Lahskhar-e-Islam, the report said.
With the rise of ISIS in Afganistan, many former TTP terrorists have joined Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan (ISIL-K).