KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Taliban sources in Kunar province report that two members of the Islamic State’s regional affiliate, ISKP, were beheaded in the Manogi district during an operation conducted by Taliban forces on Saturday night.
According to these sources, one of the individuals killed was identified as Abu Bakr, an ISKP commander.
The two men were reportedly behind an earlier attack this month on a Taliban Ranger vehicle in the Dara-e-Noor district of neighboring Nangarhar province, which resulted in the deaths of at least four Taliban fighters.
Taliban authorities in Kunar have not yet commented on the matter.
Since returning to power, the Taliban have repeatedly claimed success in suppressing ISKP and dismantling its hideouts.
However, ISKP continues to carry out deadly attacks targeting both Taliban officials and civilians across Afghanistan.
According to the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), ISKP remains a major threat in Afghanistan and the wider region. In its latest report, SIGAR noted a sharp rise in ISKP activity in 2024, with the group claiming responsibility for 60 attacks—a 40% increase from the previous year.
