Death toll mounts as Taliban-Daesh battle enters 4th day

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): A fierce firefight between Taliban and Islamic State (Daesh) fighters in the Chaparhar district of eastern Nangarhar provinceentered a fourth day on Wednesday, officials said.

At least 16 militants, including a senior Taliban leader, have been killed so far during the ongoing clash, the governor’s spokesman, Attaullah Khogyani, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

“A Taliban-designated district chief, named Adel, has been killed along with 10 associates. Five Daesh fighters were also killed and two. Eleven rebels have been wounded,” he said.

A local Taliban leader, Mohammad Hakim, was among the injured, Nangarhar police spokesmanLt. Col. Hazrat Hussain Mashriqiwal said.

A provincial councilmember, Zabihullah Zmaray, said that civilians were also affected by the four-day clash. Many families had been displaced to other parts of the province, he added.

A resident of the district, Adam Khan Seerat, said the fighters carried black and white flags. Rebel groups have come to the district from different areas to support Daesh and Taliban.

“There is fearthat Chaparhar could turninto a new front line, where civilians are sacrificed in clashes between insurgent outfits, like the Shinwari region of the province,” he remarked.

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