Atta Mohammad Noor, acting governor of northern Balkh province, on Sunday said Daesh insurgents are trying to infiltrate the province.
He confirmed the presence of Daesh in Balkh and said security forces discovered documents during the Khorshid 21 military operation in the province. He said the documents show signs of the group’s presence in the province and indicate Daesh was “trying to recruit people” locally.
He said the operation – led by himself – was launched in Kushende district of the province just over a week ago and ended on Saturday.
Noor said the Taliban and Daesh insurgents were trying to establish bases in the province.
“Both extremist groups [Taliban and Daesh] are trying to destabilize this valley [near the Deh Yak village], as well as Kushende and Shulgara districts and other parts of Balkh province,” he said.
He said that seven insurgents were killed during the operation and 23 others were captured, adding that “those insurgents who were captured during the operation have shown remorse.”
Najib, who is not yet 20 years old, was captured during the Khorshid 21 operation and “confessed that he had received three months training in Kushende by Daesh.
Officials said that Kushende, Zarai, Dawalat Abad, Chamtal, Chahar Bolak and Shulgarai are the districts which are under Daesh threat.
Hassibullah Quraishi, a police commander in Balkh, said that “during the search operation we discovered Daesh flags and different weapons and also advertising documents of the Taliban.”
A number of Balkh residents meanwhile said they were happy with the military operations in the province but also expressed their concerns over “how insurgents got small and heavy weapons into these areas.”http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/24210-daesh-surfaces-in-balkh-atta-noor
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