Daesh/ISIS network involved in attacks on Pakistan's Embassy, Chinese hotel in Kabul wiped out: Taliban

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD (AA) - The Afghan Taliban on Thursday claimed that they have wiped out a network of Daesh/ISIS terrorists involved in last month’s attacks on Pakistan’s Embassy and a Chinese hotel in Kabul.

In a statement, the Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the Taliban forces carried out an operation on Wednesday against the Daesh/ISIS terrorist group in Kabul and Western Nimroz province and targeted its hideouts.

"Yesterday, an operation was carried out against an important and dangerous network of Daesh in Kabul and Nimroz provinces that was involved in attacks on the Langan Hotel (where Chinese citizens were staying), the airport, the Pakistani Embassy, and some other targets in Kabul city," Mujahid said.

He added the network had also a plan to carry out more attacks and was also behind transferring foreign Daesh/ISIS militants into Afghanistan.

"As a result, the three hideouts were destroyed, 8 Daesh terrorists were killed, including some foreign militants, many light weapons, hand grenades, mines, explosive vests, and explosives were recovered, while 7 Daesh terrorists were arrested.”

Some other suspects have also been taken into custody for questioning, Mujahid said.

On Dec. 2, Pakistan’s Embassy in Kabul came under attack. Apparently, the militants targeted Chargé d’Affaires Ubaidur Rehman Nizamani when he was walking inside the embassy compound. Nizamani escaped the firing, however, his guard was critically injured.

Later on Dec. 12, at least five Chinese nationals were wounded while three armed assailants were killed in an hour-long security operation after they stormed a hotel in Afghanistan's capital Kabul, where Chinese nationals were staying.

The terrorist network Daesh/ISIS claimed responsibility for both attacks. Daesh has long been involved in a series of terrorist attacks and bombings across the war-torn country, particularly after the Taliban's storming back to power in August last year.

- TTP warns Pakistan’s ruling alliance

Meanwhile, the armed group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has warned Pakistan’s main ruling parties of “concrete action” against their top leadership in the government for “declaring war” against it.

In a statement, the TTP, an umbrella group of several militant groups operating in Pakistan, warned that action will be taken against the top leaders of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) if they continue support to the Pakistan Army.

“People should avoid getting close to such leading people,” the daily Express Tribune reported citing the TTP statement.

The militant group's statement came after the country's top civilian and military leadership announced taking strict action against the TTP after several terrorist attacks inside Pakistan in recent weeks.