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Afghan University Teacher, Students Among IS Operatives Arrested in Kabul

Ayaz Gul

   ISLAMABAD - Afghan authorities say they have arrested four Islamic
   State (IS) operatives, including a university teacher, during a
   counterterrorism raid in Kabul.

   The arrests come amid recent reports the Middle Eastern terrorist group
   has grown into a major security challenge for U.S.-backed Afghan forces
   struggling to contain the Taliban insurgency.

   Afghanistan's spy agency, National Directorate of Security (NDS), while
   announcing the arrests, said in a statement the suspects were involved
   in recruiting fighters for IS and organizing terrorist attacks in and
   around the capital city.

   It identified one of the detainees as a Kabul University lecturer,
   Mubashir Muslimyar, while the rest as graduates of the same
   institution. The men are said to have told investigators they were
   working closely with IS operatives in eastern Nangarhar province and
   many educated young Afghans were joining their ranks.

   This is not the first time that the NDS has arrested suspected IS
   operatives from Kabul University. Weeks back, another lecturer was also
   taken into custody on the same charges.

   IS has not commented on the arrests.

   The Afghan branch of IS operates under the name of Khorasan Province
   (ISKP). It is estimated to have about 2,000 fighters in the country.

   Locally known as Daesh, the terrorist outfit has carried out major
   attacks in Kabul and Nangarhar, where it is believed to have set up
   strong bases in several districts. The militants are also active in
   parts of the adjoining eastern Kunar province.

   Former Afghan national security advisrr, Haneef Atmar, told VOA
   militants linked to IS also are present in northeastern Badakhshan and
   northern provinces of Jowzjan and Faryab.

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