EVENT SUMMARY
Over a dozen Takfiris were killed when rival factions between Islamic State and Taliban terrorist groups clashed in Afghanistan’s eastern province of Nangarhar.
According Attaullah Khogyani, the spokesman for the provincial governor, the two warring sides engaged in fierce exchange of gunfire in Achin district of the besieged province situated some 150 kilometers (93 miles) east of the capital, Kabul, on Tuesday 16, 2016.
Khogyani confirmed that 13 militants were killed from both sides and eight others were left with gun wounds.
The militant’s clash also left some civilians caught up in the line of fire with gun wounds.
ISLAMIC STATE-TALIBAN RIVALRY
Rivalry between Islamic State and Taliban has been witnessed many times in Afghanistan. On June 16, 2015, Taliban militant group in Afghanistan warned Daesh emir, Ibrahim al-Samarrai, also known as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, against “waging a parallel insurgency in Afghanistan.
Early January 2016, at least 30 were killed in clashes between Islamic State fighters and Taliban in Bati Kot district of Nangarhar Province.
In December 2015, clashes between Daesh militants and Taliban extremists in the Chaparhar district of the same Afghan province left at least 15 people dead with two civilians being caught in the crossfire and sustained gunshot wounds.
Afghanistan which is considered bastion of Taliban Takfiris has been gripped by militancy challenge for many years.
US-led coalition has been conducting offensives against militant’s positions in the country in the war against terror campaigns.
