The Taliban police in the northern Balkh province has claimed that the group’s forces have killed as many as six members of the Islamic State – Khurasan Province (ISKP) during a night raid on their hideout in Nahr-e-Shahi district of the province.
Mohammad Asif Waziri, spokesman for the Taliban’s police in Balkh, said that the night raid was conducted on Monday night on an ISKP hideout in Karte Nassim area of Nahr-e-Shahi district which lasted for one hour.
He further claimed that six ISKP members were killed during the raid and the Taliban suffered no casualties.
Local sources confirmed to KabulNow that a firefight erupted in the area around 09:00 PM last night after armed men attacked the Taliban security outposts. Local residents, however, added that the clash lasted for four hours with light and heavy weaponry being fired during firefight.
Balkh has witnessed several armed clashes between the Taliban and ISKP fighters in recent month. Plus, the ISKP has claimed responsibility for two attacks in Balkh and one attack in Kabul over the last month.
Still, the Taliban officials have repeatedly denied ISKP presence in Afghanistan and claimed to have largely suppressed the group in the country.
