Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – The Taliban has escalated its campaign against the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) with a significant military offensive in Nangarhar province, codenamed “Operation Azm-e-Watan” (Resolve of the Homeland). Launched at 06:30 PM local time (14:00 UTC), the operation has triggered intense clashes near Jalalabad, with Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid announcing that at least 30 ISKP fighters have been killed and several militant hideouts destroyed within the first few hours. The offensive follows a spike in ISKP activity, including a suicide bombing in Kabul last week that claimed 12 civilian lives and injured dozens more, according to unverified reports circulating on X. Taliban sources, speaking anonymously, revealed that intelligence gathered over the past month indicated an ISKP plot to expand operations into neighboring Kunar province, prompting the preemptive strike. The operation involves a substantial deployment of Taliban forces, including special units and limited air support, targeting known ISKP strongholds in the eastern region.
Nangarhar, a historically volatile area near the Pakistan border, has long been a battleground for insurgent groups, making it a critical test for the Taliban’s authority since their 2021 takeover. Local residents reported heavy gunfire and explosions, with social media posts on X showing smoke rising from the outskirts of Jalalabad. The Taliban has imposed a communications blackout in parts of the province, complicating real-time updates, while unverified accounts suggest hundreds of families have been displaced as fighting intensifies. ISKP has yet to issue an official response, and casualty figures remain unconfirmed beyond Taliban claims.
This offensive underscores the Taliban’s ongoing struggle to suppress ISKP, a rival that has exploited Afghanistan’s instability to challenge the group’s rule. The Council on Foreign Relations’ Global Conflict Tracker highlights Nangarhar as a key flashpoint, with the Taliban facing pressure from both internal threats and external actors like Pakistan and Iran, who monitor the border closely. Internationally, the operation may reignite debates over the Taliban’s ability to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a terrorism hub, a condition tied to potential sanctions relief. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has urged restraint and called for the protection of civilian lives, though its influence remains limited without formal diplomatic ties.
