Kabul, Afghanistan: In an apparent change in their strategy, Afghan Taliban are once again gathering in Nangarhar province with full force.
According to information arriving from Jalalabad, Taliban are trying to retake every village of Nangarhar province from Daesh although they left this province unattended in December 2014 when Taliban decided to capture northern areas including Kunduz, Badakshan, Takhar and Nuristan. Daesh also known as Islamic State (IS) filled vacuum in Nangarhar and established it bases in villages.
Reports arriving from Jalalabad suggest that Taliban are fighting to retake strategic district Khogyani bordering Pakistani tribal areas of Parachinar. Khogyani is one of the most fertile areas of Afghanistan for poppy cultivation, apricots, walnuts, almonds and grapes.
Reports arriving from Parachinar suggest that Pakistan Army has doubled its presence in bordering areas with Khogyani district to deal with possible influx of Afghan villagers who are fleeing from Khogyani district.
“There are no troops of Afghan Army or NATO forces in Khogyani district since Taliban and Daesh are fighting and people are facing three dangers while living and leaving this area. NATO is doing airstrike, Taliban are asking villagers to leave their homes while Daesh fighters are using villagers as human shield”, commented a trader Ramghan who escaped Khogyani district and reached Kabul.
He claimed Daesh used villagers of Zavi Tangi area as human shield and over 100 villagers had been killed in battle between Taliban and Daesh while 20 plus killed in airstrikes.
