Taliban security forces arrive at the site of an attack at Shahr-e-naw which is city's one of main commercial areas in Kabul on Dec 12, 2022. (WAKIL KOHSAR / AFP)

Taliban security forces killed eight terrorists linked to attacks last year on foreigners, including Chinese nationals, during simultaneous overnight operations in Kabul and Nimroz province.

Zabiullah Mujahid, chief spokesperson of the Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan, said the successful raid on Jan 4-5 was conducted on the basis of input about local militant group IS-IK, which is commonly known as Daish, provided by the Intelligence Unit of Taliban.

On Dec 13, 2022, militants of Islamic State of Khorasan Province, an arm of ISIS in Afghanistan, unleashed a gun and bomb attack on a hotel restaurant popular with Chinese businessmen.Those killed in the overnight raid had a main role in the attack, according to spokesperson Mujahid

“I can confirm that the forces of Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan successfully eliminated a deadly network of Daish from the provinces of Kabul and Nimroz,” Mujahid said over telephone. “The terrorist network was involved in attacks on the Langan Hotel, on Kabul military airport, on Pakistani embassy and had further targets as well in Kabul city. It is a huge success that was made possible with the collaboration of the departments of Intelligence, police and Taliban commanders.”

Mujahid disclosed that the terrorist network has been operating in settled parts of Afghanistan for a long time and has been recruiting militants from abroad as well. According to intelligence reports, the group had been operating from three hideouts in Shuhada-e-Salehin and Qalacha areas of the eighth police district of Kabul city and Zaranj, the capital city of Nimroz province.

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“Taliban security forces had eliminated the terrorists and razed all the hideouts of Daish during raids conducted last night,” Mujahid said, adding that eight terrorists were killed during the operation.

Among the dead were foreign members of the terror group as well, according to the spokesperson. Moreover, Taliban security forces had recovered light weapons, hand grenades, mines, explosive vests and explosives from the hideouts while seven terrorists were taken into custody. 

Taliban forces’ operation against IS-IK won praise of Afghan people. Analysts and experts appreciated their operation against terrorist organizations such as Daish and said Taliban are successfully maintaining the writ of state across the Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan.

Maria Sultan, chairperson and president of the South Asian Strategic Stability Institute (SASSI) University in Islamabad, said that Taliban government is enjoying the support and backing of the regional powers that is why it was confidently eliminating the groups like IS-KP.

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“Taliban regime understands the complexity of regional security and value regional peace. Pakistan is fully backing and supporting Taliban regime,” said Sultan, who is also an advisor to Pakistan’s Ministry of Defense on Strategic and Military affairs. “Islamabad has signed cooperation agreement with the government of Afghanistan against terrorism.” 

Analysts say that the Taliban forces’ operation against the network of Daish is restoring writ of, as well as the confidence in, the Taliban regime as well.

“Last night’s operation against the ISIS has raised Taliban’s confidence and moral. Also, it has given a loud message across the world that Taliban regime has the capacity to quell militancy from across the country,” Shahullah Khan, a Kabul based independent analyst and geo-strategic expert said. “It will indeed restore the confidence of the regional powers including China, Pakistan and Russia in Taliban regime.”

While Taliban continues criticism of the US administration for freezing the assets of the central bank of Afghanistan, some experts note that the United States should also be with Taliban against terrorism and militancy in Afghanistan.

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Tahir Jamil, assistant professor of American Studies at Area Study Center of Quaid-i-Azam University, said,  “Taliban are achieving remarkable progress against militant organizations operating across Afghanistan. I believe Biden Administration is looking for stability of Afghanistan through Taliban regime.”  

Following US withdrawal last August, he said, “Talban are in control of every nook and corner of the Islamic State of Afghanistan. The military operations they have conducted to flush out terrorists and militants across Afghanistan itself show they are in command. It is indeed a great thing.” 

On Dec 13, 2022, militants of Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), an arm of ISIS in Afghanistan, unleashed a gun and bomb attack on a multistory hotel restaurant popular with Chinese investors and businessmen.  Those killed in the overnight raid had a main role in the attack, according to spokesperson Mujahid.

This year’s ISKP attacks were seen as a clear message that terrorist forces in the country are targeting whoever try to help Afghan people and the government of Afghanistan.

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Although Taliban forces responded swiftly to the terrorist attack and minimized the loss of lives in Langan Hotel, three people died and about 20 were injured including five foreigners who sustained bullet injuries and were rushed to nearby hospital. 

The attack on the hotel by the ISKP once again revealed the threats of terror attacks despite decades of so-called anti-terrorism war by US-led NATO.

The writer is a freelance journalist for China Daily.