28 Taliban fighters killed in IS attack

On Aug 27, 2021

AFGHANISTAN: A Taliban official said on Friday that at least 28 Taliban members were among the people killed in explosions overnight outside the airport in Kabul. “We have lost more people than the Americans,” the official, who declined to be identified said.

He said there was no reason to extend the August 31 deadline for foreign forces to leave the country.

The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) said in its claim of responsibility that one of its suicide bombers targeted “translators and collaborators with the American army”.

The ISKP’s statement carried a photo of what the militant group said was the bomber who carried out the attack. The image shows the alleged attacker standing with the explosive belt in front of the black IS flag with a black cloth covering his face, only his eyes showing.

Amrullah Saleh, who has proclaimed himself the ‘caretaker’ President of Afghanistan, said that ISKP has links with the Taliban and the Haqqani network. Saleh also hit out at the Taliban for denying links with the Islamic State.

“Every evidence we have in hand shows that IS-K cells have their roots in Talibs & Haqqani network particularly the ones operating in Kabul. Talibs denying links with ISIS is identical/similar to the denial of Pakistan on Quetta Shura. Talibs have learned very well from the master. #Kabul,” Saleh said in a tweet. – PTI