IS in Afg and Pak

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Around 1,500 terrorists gather along Afghanistan-Tajikistan border
By MIRWAIS ADEEL - Thu Jun 18 2015, 10:12 pm
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Terrorists in Afghanistan
Terrorists affiliated with various groups have been noted along the border with Tajikistan and inside the Afghan soil, it has been reported.
The issue was shared by a top-rank security official from Tajikistan during a session of the Council of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Border Forces Commanders, according to Russia’s state-owned TASS news agency.
Sherali Khairulloyev, national security aide to Tajikistan’s President, said one of the biggest tasks today was to prevent the transformation of Central Asian countries into a center of geopolitical confrontation of the world’s largest powers at a time when the threat of international terrorism was getting bigger from one day to another.
Khairulloyev warned that the militants were clearly seeking to create hotbeds of tensions and seize state power in the regional nations through the use of force.
He said this would be happening along Afghanistan’s border with CIS member-states, the length of which is 2,340 km.
“If the countries and secret services that have keen interest in the Islamic Caliphate project try and implement it through Afghanistan, the zone of political instability will then protrude to the CIS and China.”
In the meantime, Rajabali Rakhmonali, First Deputy Chief of Tajikistan’s State Committee for National Security, Commander of Border Troops, said about 1,500 militants had been concentrated on the opposite side of the border.
Citing official data on militants number within the Afghan soil, Rakhmonali, said “Operative information suggests the militants are mostly concentrated in Dashti Archi and Imam Saheb districts of Konduz province.”
“The ranks of the militants include members of Taliban, Al Qaida, Islamic State, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, and Ansarullo organization,” Rakhmonali said adding that combat actions and tensions continued unabated in the Afghan provinces of Takhar, Konduz and Badakhshan.
Meanwhile, chief of Uzbekistan’s border troops, Nasirbek Usmanbekov, said certain numbers of militants in the parts of Afghanistan adjoining border with Uzbekistan were also noted.
Citing data provided by secret services, Usmanbekov, said “The data we have indicates a certain concentration of militant forces but not in the quantities as in the vicinity of the Tajikistani-Afghan border,” he said. “Their concentration near our borders is much, much smaller and our border-guard units have enough strength to repel possible strikes from the Afghan territory.”

http://www.khaama.com/around-1500-terrorists-gather-along-afghanistan-tajikistan-border-1220

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ISIS claims new barbaric killings in Afghanistan
By MIRWAIS ADEEL - Sat Jun 20 2015, 7:40 am
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isis afghanistan
The social media have been rife with propaganda activities by pro-ISIS activists, claiming new barbaric killings by the affiliates of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group in Afghanistan.
Although the authenticity of the posts remain unverified, at least three posts have circulated online during the recent days, claiming execution of defectors and spies in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan.
The latest post was made on Friday which purportedly shows the activities of the ISIS fighters in Afghanistan gaining foothold in the country by distributing propaganda materials among the residents.
The first post on 18th June consists of some photographs which purportedly shows the execution of a man in orange jump suit, identified as Dur Khan and was beheaded over espionage charges.
isis afghanistan2a
The second post on the same day shows the barbaric killing of two young men who have been accused of apostasy and were shot dead in an open area.
The video was released by Wilayat Khorasan, a new province was announced in Afghanistan-Pakistan by the terror group earlier this year.
The executioner appearing in the video claims that the victims are defectors and are being executed as per the Sharia law.
This comes as the ISIS affiliates released a video almost a week ago which purportedly showed the the beheading of a Taliban member in Afghanistan.
Snapshots of the video circulated online purportedly shows the execution of the victim who has been identified as Saad Imarati, who reportedly switched allegiances from ISIS back to the Taliban group in Afghanistan.

http://www.khaama.com/isis-claims-new-barbaric-killings-in-afghanistan-1225

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Officials confirm beheading of a man by ISIS affiliates in Nangarhar
By MIRWAIS ADEEL - Sat Jun 20 2015, 6:12 pm
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ISIS behead a man in NangarharThe affiliates of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group have beheaded a man in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan.
According to local government officials, the victim was a local official of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development who was working in National Solidarity Program.
The district administrative chief of Batikot Haji Ghalib told BBC that the victim was also one of the tribal elders.
Ghalib further added that the man was beheaded and his body was left near a school building but the main motive behind his execution is not clear so far.
The confirmation by the local officials in Batikot regarding the execution of a man by ISIS affiliates comes as social media have been rife with propaganda activities by pro-ISIS activists, claiming new barbaric killings by the affiliates of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group in Afghanistan.
ISIS affiliates shared at least three posts during the recent days which purportedly shows the execution carried in eastern Nangarhar province.
The latest post was made on Friday which purportedly shows the activities of the ISIS fighters in Afghanistan gaining foothold in the country by distributing propaganda materials among the residents.

http://www.khaama.com/officials-confirm-beheading-of-a-man-by-isis-affiliates-in-nangarhar-1227

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Six Daesh insurgents killed in clash with security forces in Helmand
By KHAAMA PRESS - Mon Jun 22 2015, 2:24 pm
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ISIS (2)Six Daesh or ISIS fighters were killed in a clash with security forces in restive Helmand province.
A statement issued on Monday by the Afghan Army 215th Maiwand Corps states that a group of militants belonging to Daesh attacked security check posts in Garah area of Kajaki District yesterday which engulfed a gun battle between the two sides.
The statement adds that including a commander of the group, six insurgents were killed in the clash. The dead bodies of those killed were left on the ground.
Two Kalashnikovs belonging to the group were also seized by the security forces. The statement does not specify if security forces have suffered casualties in the clash or not.

http://www.khaama.com/six-daesh-insurgents-killed-in-clash-with-security-forces-in-helmand-3526

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ISIS not posing strategic threat to Afghanistan, NATO official
By KHAAMA PRESS - Mon Jun 22 2015, 6:32 pm
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isis afghanistan2aThe Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group does not pose a strategic threat to Afghanistan, a senior NATO official said Monday.
The official further added that both the Afghan government and the NATO take the issue regarding the alleged emergence of the terror group in Afghanistan as “very seriously”.
The remark by the NATO official comes as there have been growing concerns among the Afghans regarding the growing activities by the affiliates of the terror group to gain a foothold in Afghanistan.
The social media have been rife with posts published by the pro-ISIS activists recently, which suggests the involvement of the terror group’s affiliates in atrocities, allegedly committed in Afghanistan.
Pentagon in a report released last week said “ISIL’s presence and influence in Afghanistan remains in the initial exploratory phase.”
The report further added “The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan has publicly expressed support for ISIL as the leader of the global jihad; however, the Taliban has declared that it will not allow ISIL in Afghanistan.”
The United States of Department also released a report earlier this week also said “The Government of Afghanistan takes the threat of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) seriously. There were some reports of ISIL engaging Afghan insurgent groups to obtain allegiance in exchange for resources.”
“In September, an ISIL newspaper in Dari and Pashto was reportedly distributed in Kabul and Nangarhar provinces promoting extremist ideology,” the report said.
The report also added “In late October, pro-ISIL graffiti was discovered at Kabul University, sparking fear that extremist youth groups may latch onto ISIL messaging.”
“On November 15, a suspected ISIL agent who had allegedly posted pamphlets at the Blue Mosque in Herat City was detained in Herat,” the report said.
According to the report, ISIL ideology may resonate with fringe elements of insurgent/terrorist groups in Afghanistan, but for the most part Afghanistan-based militants were resistant to fully aligning themselves with the group.
“ISIL will likely continue to engage Afghan insurgent and terrorist groups. Small numbers of independent actors that are loosely-affiliated with ISIL may continue to use ISIL’s name to gain public and media attention in Afghanistan,” the report said.

http://www.khaama.com/isis-not-posing-strategic-threat-to-afghanistan-nato-official-1232

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ISIS in Afghanistan a rebrand of militants already in battlefield
By KHAAMA PRESS - Thu Jun 25 2015, 5:28 pm
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ISIS in AfghanistanThe US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter said Thursday that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group is a rebrand of the militants already in the battlefield.
“What we see frequently in Afghanistan with ISIL is a rebranding of those already on the battlefield, now adopting this new name they regard as a better replacement for a name they had in the past,” Carter said.
Carter also added that “Other things are going on. After considerable encouragement from us, Pakistani security forces are more active on their side of their border, so some fighters have fled into Afghanistan.”
The remarks by Carter comes as a senior NATO official said earlier that the group does not pose a strategic threat to Afghanistan.
The official further added that both the Afghan government and the NATO take the issue regarding the alleged emergence of the terror group in Afghanistan as “very seriously”.
This comes as there have been growing concerns regarding the expansion of the activities by the terror group in parts of the country.
The social media have been rife with posts published by the pro-ISIS activists recently, which suggests the involvement of the terror group’s affiliates in atrocities, allegedly committed in Afghanistan.
Pentagon also released a report earlier this month that the terror group is likely to continue looking for ways to expand their activities in Afghanistan.
the US forces have noted a few militants re-branding themselves, likely in an attempt to draw media attention, greater resources and more recruits.
“ISIL’s presence and influence in Afghanistan remains in the initial exploratory phase,” the report said, adding that “The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan has publicly expressed support for ISIL as the leader of the global jihad; however, the Taliban has declared that it will not allow ISIL in Afghanistan.”

http://www.khaama.com/isis-in-afghanistan-a-rebrand-of-militants-already-in-battlefield-1238

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Russia very concerned over militants influence in Afghanistan
By ZABIHULLAH MOOSAKHAIL - Thu Jun 25 2015, 1:49 pm
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putinRussian President Vladimir Putin has expressed serious concern over the influence of the militant groups in Afghanistan.
Putin in a meeting with Afghanistan’s former president Hamid Karzai has said that the sharp rise in Taliban attacks after NATO ended its combat role and that activities of the so-called Islamic State group are more worrying.
“We are witnessing processes that cause serious concern…Taliban is actively spreading its influence, controlling a large part of [Afghan] territory, many border crossing points. What is more worrying, however, is the fact that the so-called Islamic State organization is working more and more actively in Afghanistan, feeling more comfortable there,” Putin said.
Putin has also said that the Islamic State, Daesh, is currently operating in 25 provinces of Afghanistan out of 34.
Afghanistan’s ex-president Hamid Karzai has also said that the Islamic State or Daesh is not only a serious threat for Afghanistan but for the entire region.
Fighters operating under the name of Daesh in Afghanistan are said to be the former members of the Taliban group who not only have separated ways with Taliban.
But some analyzers believe Daesh could be proved more dangerous than Taliban since they have already adopted the brutal ways of killing from their affiliates in Iraq and Syria.

http://www.khaama.com/russia-very-concerned-over-militants-rising-influence-in-afghanistan-3547

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Daesh, Taliban clash left 12 dead in Nangarhar
By KHAAMA PRESS - Sun Jun 28 2015, 9:53 am
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ISIS12 insurgents belonging to Daesh and Taliban have been killed in a clash between the two groups in eastern Nangarhar province.
Officials at the Ministry of Defense said that the clash erupted in Zawa area of Khogyani District yesterday.
According to the ministry’s information, Daesh suffered nine casualties. Five Daesh fighters were killed and four others wounded. Those killed included the groups local commander Qari Mirwais alias Nasrat.
Taliban suffered 15 casualties. Seven of the group’s fighters were killed and eight others wounded.
Daesh was operating in Iraq and Syria for years but it emerged in Afghanistan months before.
Some local commanders of Taliban pledged allegiance to the Emir of Daesh or the Islamic State and opened a new chapter in the war in Afghanistan.
Daesh wants Taliban to fight under its black flag but Taliban want Daesh to leave Afghanistan.
The disagreements have prompted severe clashes between the two groups leaving dozens of insurgents killed, most of them in Nangarhar province.

http://www.khaama.com/daesh-taliban-clash-left-12-dead-in-nangarhar-3560

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Afghanistan’s Natural Resources under the sight of Islamic State
By KHAAMA PRESS - Mon Jun 29 2015, 11:32 am
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Mines, like this one in Badakhshan, could help lift Afghanistan out of poverty.
Mines
Pentagon in a new report says that Islamic State group is eyeing on the Natural Resources of Afghanistan.
Citing the Pentagon report, The Diplomat an online international news magazine that also writes analysis says that even though it is unknown if Islamic State would be able to hold swaths of land in Afghanistan but it is obviously possible that the group will seek to beat the country’s poorly monitored mining industry to fund their operations in Iraq and Syria.
The Diplomat further states that the majorities of the estimated $3 trillion worth of mineral resources of Afghanistan are undeveloped, abandoned, awaiting new contracts or excavated by local community members (Especially warlords).
According to the Diplomat the Islamic State is attempting to gain a toehold in Afghanistan and the worsening security situation could pave way for the group to enhance operations.
The Diplomat further states that due to the widespread corruption and lack of coordination between various Afghan ministries and security agencies Afghanistan’s Natural Resources remain open to illegal extractions.
It also states that the ongoing fighting has caused a significant rise in illegal extraction of mines and that several international investors have stepped back from contracts or expressed concern over the insecurity, which is a major blow to the mining industry in the country.
The Diplomat citing a report issued by Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) in April says that illegal extraction of mines cost Afghanistan at least $300 million annually since the fall of Taliban in 2001.
The Diplomat further states most of Afghanistan’s illegally extracted mines are going to Pakistan, adding that the leadership of Daesh’s Khorasaan province is predominantly comprised of former Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commanders which makes the smuggle of Afghanistan’s illegally extracted mines to Pakistan easy.
Islamic State of Daesh was operating in Iraq and Syria for years but it emerged in Afghanistan months before.

http://www.khaama.com/afghanistans-natural-resources-under-the-sight-of-islamic-state-3567

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Special Force formed to combat Daesh in Afghanistan
By ZABIHULLAH MOOSAKHAIL - Thu Jul 02 2015, 9:57 am
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ISIS (1)The National Directorate of Security (NDS) has formed a Special Force to combat Islamic State of Daesh in Afghanistan.
Haseeb Sediqi, spokesman for NDS on Wednesday told reporters that the Special Force has been formed based on the anti-Daesh strategy of the government.
He said that the Special Force is comprised of three units, Intelligence, Analysis and Operational Unit.
According to Sediqi, the group has already began operating in parts of the country including Helmand, Nangarhar and Farah provinces.
The NDS spokesman told reporters that as the Special Force began its operation they killed Mullah Abdul Rawouf in southern Helmand province.
He said recently the Special Force arrested a group of six members of Daesh in Achin District of eastern Nangarhar province, noting that one of the six was previously a key commander of Taliban.
The NDS spokesman further said that the main focus of the NDS-formed Special Force is to foil Daesh plans they start.
Political analyzers consider Daesh the biggest threat for Afghanistan’s national security after Taliban.
The newly emerged group has started recruiting fighters in parts of the country. The group is also fighting against Taliban.

http://www.khaama.com/special-force-formed-to-combat-daesh-in-afghanistan-3582

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ISIS threat to Afghanistan must be taken seriously: Crocker
By MIRWAIS ADEEL - Sun Jul 05 2015, 6:36 am
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ISIS threat to AfghanistanThe former US ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker has said the threat by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group to Afghanistan must be taken very seriously.
In an interview with the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Crocker said the Afghan government and Afghanistan’s allies led by the United States should take the emerging threat seriously.
He said “There is no question that IS is a very violent and very dangerous force wherever it is. I have seen the reports, and I have talked to Afghan government officials about this emerging presence inside Afghanistan.”
“I think it does have to be taken very seriously by the Afghan government and Afghanistan’s allies led by the United States,” Crocker added.
According to Crocker further splits among the militant groups are likely in the future. “At the same time, IS is going to encounter its own enemies; certainly the Taliban, at least as represented by the Quetta Shura, is very much against IS. What we may see are further splits in the Taliban with one faction against IS and the other faction, maybe, aligning with them,” Crocker said.
He said there could be as much violence among the militants as there would be from IS against the government of Afghanistan.
The remarks by Crocker come as there have been growing concerns regarding the expansion of the activities by the terror group in parts of the country.
Pentagon also released a report earlier this month that the terror group is likely to continue looking for ways to expand their activities in Afghanistan.
According to the report, the US forces have noted a few militants re-branding themselves, likely in an attempt to draw media attention, greater resources and more recruits.
“ISIL’s presence and influence in Afghanistan remains in the initial exploratory phase,” the report said, adding that “The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan has publicly expressed support for ISIL as the leader of the global jihad; however, the Taliban has declared that it will not allow ISIL in Afghanistan.”

http://www.khaama.com/isis-threat-to-afghanistan-must-be-taken-seriously-crocker-1247

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Hekmatyar’s party to support ISIS in fight against Taliban
By MIRWAIS ADEEL - Sun Jul 05 2015, 10:13 pm
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hekmatyarHezb-e-Islami party led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar announced support to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group affiliates in fight against the Taliban militants.
A statement was released by Hezb-e-Islami and urged the group’s followers to support the ISIS affiliates in the event tensions further escalated between the Taliban militants and affiliates of the ISIS group who were former members of the Taliban group.
The statement also added that the Hezb-e-Islami has an intense enmity with the Taliban group and communists along with Shura-e-Nizar.
No further elaboration was given regarding the communists, however Hezb-e-Islami’s remarks regarding Shura-e-Nizar were apparently a gesture towards the leaders of Jamiat Islami party.
Hezb-e-Islami is leading an anti-government militant group in Afghanistan and has been blacklisted by US Department of State.
The statement by Hezb-e-Islami comes as the Taliban group sent a letter to ISIS leader last month urging the rival jihadist group to stop recruiting in Afghanistan.
Taliban insisted that there is room for only “one flag, one leadership” in their fight to re-establish strict Islamist rule.
The letter was sent following heavy clashes between the Taliban militants and ISIS affiliates in eastern parts of the country, specifically in Nangarhar province.

http://www.khaama.com/hekmatyars-party-to-support-isis-in-fight-against-taliban-1250

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ISIS in Afghanistan on Putin and Xi Jinping’s summit agenda
By MIRWAIS ADEEL - Mon Jul 06 2015, 1:44 pm
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ISIS in Afghanistan Putin and XiThe Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart on potential threat posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group in Afghanistan.
This comes as there have been growing concerns regarding the emergence of ISIS group in Afghanistan as the affiliates of the terror are trying to gain a foothold in the country amid ongoing clashes with the Taliban militants in eastern parts of the country.
According to reports, Chinese President Xi Jinping will travel to Russia to participate in Eurasian security summit scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
Chinese vice foreign minister Cheng Guoping told reporters that Afghanistan faces a grim security situation due to the spillover effect of the ISIS group.
Guopin said SCO leaders “will certainly have in-depth discussions on the Afghan issue.”
He also added “And they will talk further about how to respond to the security situation there.”
The Afghan national security advisor Hanif Atmar said earlier warned that the terror group wants to expand its operations not only in Afghanistan but the whole region and wants infiltrate in Central Asian countries.
Speaking to lawmakers in the upper house of the parliament – Meshrano Jirga earlier in May, Atmar said the terror group wants to finance the group’s activities by having access to drugs market.

http://www.khaama.com/isis-in-afghanistan-on-putin-and-xi-jinpings-summit-agenda-9494

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49 ISIS affiliates killed in Nangarhar drone strikes
By MIRWAIS ADEEL - Mon Jul 06 2015, 10:30 pm
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drone strikes in NangarharAt least 49 militants affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group were killed in separate drone strikes in eastern Nangahar province.
According to the local government officials, the militants were killed in Achin district on Monday.
The provincial government spokesman Ahmad Zia Abdulzai said the first airstrike was carried out around 12:00 pm local time, leaving at least 12 militants dead.
He said at least 37 others who were apparently ISIS affiliates were killed in the second drone strike in the same area around 2:00 pm local time.
The airstrikes were carried out as the militants had gathered for a meeting in Achin district, the local residents said, adding that several dead bodies were left in the area following the raids.
This comes as sporadic clashes were reported between the militant groups in parts of Achin and Nazian districts on Monday.
According to the local government officials, at least fourteen militants were killed and two others were injured during the clashes.
Clashes have intensified between the Taliban militants and ISIS affiliates in eastern Nangarhar province during the recent weeks as the newly emerged ISIS militants are trying to gain a foothold in Afghanistan.
In the meantime, the Hezb-e-Islami party led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar announced support to the ISIS affiliates to combat the Taliban militants.

http://www.khaama.com/49-isis-affiliates-killed-in-nangarhar-drone-strikes-1253

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Airstrike kills ISIS group’s No. 2 leader in Afghanistan
By MIRWAIS ADEEL - Tue Jul 07 2015, 7:56 pm
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isis deputy leader killed in AfghanistanThe second-in-command of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) affiliates in Afghanistan was killed in an airstrike in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan.
The Afghan Intelligence – National Directorate of Security (NDS) said Gul Zaman was ISIS group’s No. 2, head of military operations who was killed in the raid in Achin district.
At least six others were also killed along with Gul Zaman in the airstrike which was apparently carried out on Monday, NDS added.
This comes as local officials sid Monday at least 49 militants affiliated with ISIS terrorist group were killed in separate drone strikes in eastern Nangahar province.
The provincial government spokesman Ahmad Zia Abdulzai said the first airstrike was carried out around 12:00 pm local time, leaving at least 12 militants dead.
He said at least 37 others who were apparently ISIS affiliates were killed in the second drone strike in the same area around 2:00 pm local time.
The airstrikes were carried out as the militants had gathered for a meeting in Achin district, the local residents said, adding that several dead bodies were left in the area following the raids.

http://www.khaama.com/airstrike-kills-isis-groups-no-2-leader-in-afghanistan-1256