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| U.S. Strike Is Said to Kill Senior ISIS Militant in Afghanistan | U.S. Strike Is Said to Kill Senior ISIS Militant in Afghanistan |
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| KABUL, Afghanistan — A senior Pakistani militant leading the Afghanistan and Pakistan chapter of the Islamic State was killed in an airstrike by United States forces in eastern Afghanistan on Friday, Afghan officials said on Saturday. | |
| The death of the senior militant, Hafiz Saeed Khan, who defected from the Pakistani Taliban last year and was introduced as the head of the Islamic State in the region in January, could not be confirmed independently. Twitter accounts associated with the Islamic State rejected the news, suggesting that it was a false rumor similar to reports of his killing that circulated in April. | The death of the senior militant, Hafiz Saeed Khan, who defected from the Pakistani Taliban last year and was introduced as the head of the Islamic State in the region in January, could not be confirmed independently. Twitter accounts associated with the Islamic State rejected the news, suggesting that it was a false rumor similar to reports of his killing that circulated in April. |
| Twenty-nine other militants were killed in Friday’s airstrike, in the Achin District of eastern Nangarhar Province, officials said. It was the second time in a week that United States forces, working on intelligence provided by the Afghan government, targeted Islamic State fighters in Afghanistan. | Twenty-nine other militants were killed in Friday’s airstrike, in the Achin District of eastern Nangarhar Province, officials said. It was the second time in a week that United States forces, working on intelligence provided by the Afghan government, targeted Islamic State fighters in Afghanistan. |
| Abdul Hassib Sediqi, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s intelligence agency, the National Directorate of Security, said, “As a result of an airstrike in Achin district on a gathering place of individuals connected to Daesh, 30 of their members, including their leader, Hafiz Saeed, were killed.” Daesh is the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State, which is also known as ISIS or ISIL. | Abdul Hassib Sediqi, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s intelligence agency, the National Directorate of Security, said, “As a result of an airstrike in Achin district on a gathering place of individuals connected to Daesh, 30 of their members, including their leader, Hafiz Saeed, were killed.” Daesh is the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State, which is also known as ISIS or ISIL. |
| Mr. Sediqi said Mr. Khan’s identity was confirmed when his body was identified. | Mr. Sediqi said Mr. Khan’s identity was confirmed when his body was identified. |
| A spokesman for the Pentagon confirmed a “precision strike in Achin,” but declined to provide further details about the targets of the strike, or to comment on whether any particular militant leaders were killed. | A spokesman for the Pentagon confirmed a “precision strike in Achin,” but declined to provide further details about the targets of the strike, or to comment on whether any particular militant leaders were killed. |
| Afghan officials have long downplayed the threat posed by the Islamic State to Afghanistan and Pakistan, saying it is the same old Taliban fighting under a new name. But comments from officials in recent weeks, and the increase in operations specifically targeting former Taliban fighters who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, suggest that the militant group is now seen as dangerous to the region’s stability. | Afghan officials have long downplayed the threat posed by the Islamic State to Afghanistan and Pakistan, saying it is the same old Taliban fighting under a new name. But comments from officials in recent weeks, and the increase in operations specifically targeting former Taliban fighters who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, suggest that the militant group is now seen as dangerous to the region’s stability. |
| In a meeting with the Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, on Friday, President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan said the Islamic State was “a threat for security of the region.” | In a meeting with the Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, on Friday, President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan said the Islamic State was “a threat for security of the region.” |
| The Afghan intelligence agency has also reported the creation of a special unit to follow Islamic State activities. The agency recently released a five-minute video of what it said was its “special force for fighting Daesh.” |