KABUL (TCA) — After the recent capitulation of a large group of Daesh (Islamic State) fighters in the province of Jawzjan in northern Afghanistan, Afghan authorities believe that the terrorist group no longer threatens the country’s security, General Mohammad Radmanesh, spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Defense, told Russia’s Sputnik news agency.
“About 250 militants under the leadership of Moulawi Habiborrahmanand and his deputy, Mufti Nematollah surrendered to the Afghan security forces. We transferred them to the authorities of Afghanistan,” General Radmanesh told Sputnik Afghanistan.
The capitulation took place in the Darzab district of Jawzjan province, located in the north of Afghanistan and bordering Turkmenistan. The terrorists also handed their weapons over to Afghan security forces.
When asked whether the submission of Daesh militants in the north of the country means the resounding defeat of the organization in the northern parts of Afghanistan, Gen. Radmanesh specified that individual groups of terrorists are still hiding out in the north.
“However, they cannot commit any provocations,” he opined. “In general, these people no longer pose threats and challenges [to Afghanistan].”
According to Radmanesh, Darzab district used to be Daesh’s largest stronghold in the country: “The Afghan Air Force, ground forces and artillery took part in the counter-terror operations,” he pointed out. “The fighters had no choice but to surrender. The pressure of the Afghan security forces forced them to capitulate. Now the only top dog in the country and especially in the north is the Afghan government’s troops.”
