Afghan officials: 6 police killed in battle with IS

Six more policemen were wounded.

Afghan officials say gunmen affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) extremist group have killed six police officers in the restive eastern Nangarhar Province, which borders Pakistan. According to the office of the Chief Executive, the issue was raised during a meeting with the US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Olson, reports the Khaama Press.

Provincial police, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said “the explosion occurred inside the Hisarak Jame Mosque in Rudat district”, where a large crowd of worshipers had gathered to pray on the first Friday of Ramadan. The prayer leader was among the dead. “At face value, this attack a war crime and the perpetrators must be held accountable”, he stressed.

The barbarity of the killing is similar to those which ISIS have carried out in Syria and Iraq, however the Taliban have denied any involvement.

As Taliban continued to make steady battlefield gains against the country’s security forces, Barack Obama recently ordered USA military to tackle the resurgent terror group more directly – in tandem with their Afghan allies.

The strategically important Sarkh Kotal was captured by Taliban fighters weeks ago and since then the militants could threaten a major highway connecting the capital of Kabul to eight northern provinces.