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Deadly Prison Attack by IS Kills 21 in Afghanistan

Ayesha Tanzeem

   ISLAMABAD - Fighting continues mid-day Monday in a deadly attack that
   started Sunday evening on a prison in Jalalabad city ineastern
   Afghanistan. At least 21 people, including prisoners, have been
   killed,while nearly 50 were wounded, according to AtaullahKhogyani, a
   spokesman for the Nangarhar provincial government.

   The attack, claimed by the Islamic State group through its media
   armAmaqnews agency, started with a car bomb followed by gunmen storming
   the prison.

   Khogyanisaid the security forces had re-arrested around 700 prisoners
   who tried to flee but did not say whether any inmates managed to
   escape. He also confirmed that at least three attackers were killed
   butseveralothers were still inside the prison or holed up in nearby
   buildings from where they continued to attack the security forces.
   According to provincial officials more than 1,500 prisoners were inside
   the prisonwhenthe attackstarted.

   Security officials said their operationsare moving slowly in order to
   protect civiliansin the area.

   Various local health officials confirmed that dead bodies and wounded
   were shifted to Nangarhar regional hospital.

   Nangarhar was a stronghold of the local chapter of IS, called IS
   Khorasan, before they were routed by sustained military operations of
   Afghan and U.S.forces. However, the group has continued to attack
   targets in parts of the country, including in Jalalabad and Kabul.

   TheAfghan Taliban have distanced themselves from the attack. Taliban
   spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said his group "had nothing to do with it."

   The deadly attack comes at a time when hopes were high that the Afghan
   government and the Taliban would this monthbegindirect negotiations to
   end their decades long conflict.

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