JALALABAD - The acting defense minister, Mohammad Masoom Stanikzai, on Wednesday visited Nangarhar to assess the security situation and address concerns over the presence of alleged Daesh fighters in parts of the eastern province.

Stanikzai met with governors of Laghman and Nangarhar provinces at the 201st Selab (Flood) Corps of the Afghan National Army (ANA) base where he said that the security forces will continue their military operations in the eastern parts.

He inaugurated a military unit named Reserved Unit that will operate under the 201st Selab Corps in Nangarhar in order to fight Daesh in the area.

"The conflicts which occur in the country's villages are carried out by the Taliban, sometimes by Daesh and sometimes by Lashkar-e-Taiba fighters. We should take this war out of Afghanistan. How long do we have to wait and watch the people suffer?" he said.

"People's concern over Daesh has increased but the security forces have inflicted heavy damage to them so far," he added.

Meanwhile, Nangarhar and Laghman governors said they are still concerned over insecurity in their provinces.

"Daesh has no place among the people anymore. The security forces will take them out of the country and we will change Afghanistan into their grave," said Nangarhar governor Salim Kunduzi.

"We need to stand alongside the security forces in order to enhance good governance, better systems and security," said Laghman governor Abdul Jabar Naeemi.

According to reports, Daesh and Taliban fighters have fought each other several times during last year in Achin and Batikot district in Nangarhar. In a recent fight between Taliban and Daesh in Batikot, 17 militants including two Daesh commanders were killed and some of them were wounded. (Tolonews)