Afghan government forces are continuing to fight against extremists in the country's eastern Nangarhar Province, after announcing on Feb. 6 that recent airstrikes had killed some 40 militants.
In Nangarhar's Achin District, near the border with Pakistan, an estimated 4,000 extremists have been occupying villages and highways, and causing many problems for local civilians.
The Afghan government officially confirmed the presence of extremists in the province when they carried out an attack in the provincial capital of Jalalabad in April 2015.
In August 2015, extremists defeated the Taliban in Achin and captured some villages. They said they would build the villages as their stronghold and establish the so-called "Wilayat Khorasan", or "Khorasan Province".
"At the very beginning, the extremist group did not exchange fire with the government army, but after they drove away the Taliban, they occupied some villages. About two to three months later, they expanded their power to the Achin District and the surrounding highways which connect to the provincial capital, Jalalabad, creating many troubles for the Afghan government," said Shirin Agha, chief public relations officer for the 4th Regiment of the Afghan National Army.
In order to stop the extremists' power from expanding, Afghanistan's army has worked with local militia and border police to build several defenses.
However, Agha said that thoroughly rooting out the extremist group is very difficult.
"Those extremists live in local residential areas such as mosques and schools. So we cannot use heavy weapons to carry out a fatal strike," said Agha.
Although the government defenses have been effective in preventing the extremists from expanding their power, they have not stopped sneak attacks in the protected towns.
"I would like to say that the extremist group has taken actions here in recent days. One extrimist was killed the other night. They have done many bad things," said Lutfullah, a local resident.
"They have created much trouble for the people. They have broken into civilian's home and executed civilians. We want the government to protect us and drive away the extremist group," said Ali Mohammed, another local resident.
Despite the government army's temporary victory, there appears to be a long way to go to rid the province of extremists.
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