JALALABAD - Afghan security forces backed by US air support on Sunday launched a military operation codenamed ‘Shaheen-25’ against Daesh or Islamic State militant group in eastern Nangarhar province, officials said.
On the day one of the operation, provincial government and military spokesmen briefed media persons about the objectives of the operation in Jalalabad, the provincial capital.
Afghan National Army’s 201st Selab Military Corps spokesman Maj. Shirin Aqa Faqiri said the operation was started from Kot and Haska Mena districts and would be gradually extended to other districts.
He said the operation involved police and army personnel and they would be provided air support by US forces if needed.
He said it was unknown when the operation would be wound up, but it would continue until the IS threat was eradicated.
Nangarhar’s governor spokesman, Attaullah Khogyani, told Pajhwok Afghan News on the sidelines of the press conference that the newly-launched operation was different past operations.
He said efforts were being made to protect areas where security was maintained with people’s help.  He said NATO forces would provide air support if required.
Public uprising members would be armed and equipped with the help of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) to keep security for areas to be cleared of the IS, he said.
Khogyani said local people had promised to help the government protect their areas and ensure security.
Meanwhile, provincial police spokesman Hazrat Hussain Mashriqiwal said the police would strongly cooperative with the Afghan National Army during the operation.
He said the provincial police headquarters would also establish checkpoints for public uprising forces in areas recaptured from the IS and would provide the militiamen with basic instructions on how to protect check posts.
Despite previous operations “Shafaq 2” and “Qahar-i-Selab” still dozens of Daesh militants operative in four districts of the province.
Mashriqiwal said some 15 joint and special offensives were conducted this month alone against militants, killing at least 52 and injuring 20.
During the same period, 43 suspected militants and 41 crimes suspects were detained in the province, he concluded. (Pajhwok)