KABUL (TCA) — Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani, during his visit to Nangarhar province on November 19, said the “elimination” of Daesh (Islamic State) in the province is a major achievement for Afghanistan, the region and the world. In recent years, Nangarhar has been named a key Daesh base in Afghanistan, Afghan broadcaster TOLOnews reported.
According to government forces in Nangarhar, 243 Daesh fighters with 625 women and children have surrendered to the government. Ghani made the trip to acknowledge the achievement of Afghan security forces.
Those who surrendered were from Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Maldives and Uzbekistan.
“I want to congratulate you (residents of Nangarhar) and say that you have come up with a formula that will be a model for the survival of Afghanistan; Meaning: the people, based on a cautious security analysis, work with the security forces and the civilian administration, and with unity make everything possible,” said Ghani.
Ghani also considered what to do with the Daesh members and their families who have surrendered.
“My request, Mr. Governor, is to speak to the elders as soon as possible in order to deal in an Afghan and Islamic way with the women and children of Daesh fighters and to prepare a plan to transfer them to the other tribes — of Waziristan or Khyber Agency. I don’t want to hand them over to Pakistan,” Ghani said.
Local officials told of the significance of public uprisings in confronting Daesh in Nangarhar.
“We achieved this without a lot of bombings, without a lot of force, but with cooperation among our forces and with the people,” said Shah Mahmood Miakhel, Nangarhar’s governor.
