34 militants killed in Afghan Nangarhar province

APD NEWS

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About 34 militants, including 31 fighters of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, were killed and seven people wounded in two incidents in Afghanistan's eastern province of Nangarhar, the army's Corps based in the region said.

Up to 25 IS militants were killed following airstrikes in Mahmand Dara, Achin district within the past 24 hours, the Afghan army's Corps 201 Selab said in a statement.

No security force member or civilian was hurt during the sorties.

In addition, six IS fighters and three Taliban militants were killed and 10 armed men from two sides wounded after IS militants clashed with the Taliban outfit fighters in the same district on Sunday, the statement added.

Both the rival armed groups often fight over expanding territory in parts of Afghanistan.

The mountainous province, with Jalalabad as its capital, 120 km east of Kabul, has been the scene of clashes between security forces and militants from time to time.

The clashes have forced thousands of villagers to flee to safer places in Nangarhar.

Up to 1,600 militants loyal to the Islamic State (IS) have been killed in Afghanistan and more than 8,500 others sustained injuries over the past one year, Afghan Defense Ministry officials confirmed.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)