Roundup: Spokesman says Afghan forces capable of handling security threats

A spokesman for the Afghan Interior Ministry said on Sunday that the country's national security forces were capable enough of dealing with security threats and overcoming the security challenges.

"Any terrorist outfit no matter if it is Taliban, al-Qaida, Haqqani network or Daesh (the so-called Islamic State) attempts to destabilize Afghanistan would be defeated," Sediq Sediqi told a press briefing.

He made the remarks amid media reports alleging infiltration of the Islamic State (IS) controlling parts of Iraq and Syria, to the militancy-plagued Afghanistan.

"Intelligence entities are working on reports about IS infiltration in the country," the spokesman said, adding the Afghan national security forces were strong enough to defeat the terrorists as it defeated them last year.

The Afghan security forces, including police, army and the National Directorate for Security or the country's spy agency, were working to ensure comprehensive coordination in operations against terrorists and insurgents, Sediqi said.

"We have better preparation than last year to defeat terrorists and foil their malicious designs," he said.

He also added that police in coordination with army and national directorate for security had killed 89 insurgents over the past week.

"A total of 89 terrorists have been killed and 90 others captured during military operations over the past one week," Sediqi told reporters.

The security forces, including police, had conducted 79 joint operations over the past week during which they also discovered and defused 154 pieces of anti-personnel and anti-vehicle mines, the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, a total of 20 militants surrendered to Afghan authorities in Shinwar district of Nangarhar province with Jalalabad as its capital 120 km east of Kabul on Sunday.

"With joining these people to the peace process, the security situation will be further improved in Shinwar and adjoining districts," deputy to provincial governor Hanif Gardiwal said at a ceremony welcoming the former anti-government fighters.

The militants, who also handed over their weapons to the police on Sunday, were active in the mountainous Shinwar district over the past couple of years, the official added.

Taliban militants fighting the government have yet to comment on it. Endi