Major clashes have erupted in Kott district of Nangarhar in eastern Afghanistan after insurgents reportedly linked to Daesh staged coordinated overnight attacks on the Afghan security forces’ checkpoints and on civilians.
Frightened by Daesh’s brutality, residents and members of the provincial council have asked government to take urgent action in Kott and secure the release of those captured by Daesh.
Meanwhile, Nangarhar police chief has said that fighting between Daesh fighters and the security forces is underway in the area.
According to the latest reports, at least 30 Daesh militants were killed in the area on Friday but Daesh also killed and wounded at least 15 civilians during the attacks.
The Daesh attack in Kott is the first major operation the militant outfit has conducted outside neighboring Achin district.
Members of the provincial council have slammed Daesh over its hostage taking of civilians and said it’s an act of oppression against the Afghan people and Islam. They also said that taking women and children as hostages is against Islamic principles and human values.
“Daesh fighters took several children and women with them on Friday when the fighting started, this is against the religious values and we are massively concerned about the issue,” a member of Nangarhar provincial council Zabiullah Ezmarai said.
The provincial council members asked the Afghan government to take action and ensure the release of the hostages, adding that if the government neglected the issue, there will be a human tragedy in Kott.
“The security forces in Nangarhar should not underestimate the hostage taking event, they must launch an operation as soon as possible to secure the release of the hostages before they get harmed,” another council member Suhrab Qaderi said.
In reference to these claims, meanwhile, Nangarhar police chief Zurowar Zahid has said that battles between the security forces and Daesh militants are ongoing, however, he could not confirm whether Daesh has hostages or not.
“The area is a war zone, so far it is not confirmed whether Daesh has taken hostages or not, but I can confirm that so far no one has filed such a complaint about the hostage taking issue by Daesh, we can confirm it after the battle is ended and after we contact the locals,” Zahid said.
The statements come a day after Daesh militants on Friday conducted group attacks on local police checkpoints in Kott district.
Kott is one of the districts in Nangarhar where Daesh have been active.http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/25962-fears-grow-as-daesh-storms-nangarhars-kott-district
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