Afghan Forces Thwart A Major Islamic State Attack & Kill 35 Militants

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Sunday 27^th September 2015, hundreds of Islamic State militants staged a well coordinated predawn attack at a security outpost in a remote Afghan border with Pakistan.

In the past few months Islamic State hostilities has gained influence in Afghanistan. The United States said it is concerned about Islamic State efforts to try to establish a stronghold in Afghanistan. Recently Islamic State gained sympathizer fighters from Al Qaeda and Taliban.

According to District governor Haji Ghalib Mujahid, the predawn attack by the militants was intense though Afghan forces managed to battle the militants in the mountainous Achin district of Nangarhar province, which borders Pakistan.

Heavy casualties were inflicted on Daesh (Derogatory Arabic acronym for Islamic State militants) leaving at least 35 militants killed and forcing the fighters to retreat. The heavily armed militants were Pakistani nationals.

SUMMARY & FORECAST

Though Afghan forces managed to foil the attack and regained control of security posts that Islamic State fighters had overrun in the morning attack, more security reinforcement maybe needed as the militants have retreated and believed to be regrouping for another raid.

Recently Taliban fighters have increased their summer campaigns against the Afghanistan’s national security army but with little success in effort to gain significant territorial gains.

T Islamic State extremist activities have intensified mostly in parts of Nangarhar province where its fighters have also clashed with the Taliban in recent months, leaving dozens of fighters dead on both sides. Estimated 10% of Taliban militants are considering Islamic State as jihadist group to be associated with.

The rift among various Taliban factions is imminent stemming leadership succession disputes that may see more of it fighters defecting to Islamic State militant group strengthening it foot in Afghanistan. This is a scenario Afghanistan government is concerned and taking on the events unfolding seriously, senior State Department official added.