Afghan forces claim killing 25 al-Qaeda affiliates

KABUL, Afghanistan

The Afghan secret service on Friday claimed to have killed 25 Chechens, Uyghurs as well as local militants affiliated with al-Qaeda in Logar province.

In a statement, the National Directorate of Security said the militants had gathered in Sarkh district of Logar from neighboring seven provinces to wage a major assault.

Among those killed included top militant commanders of the group and experts of producing suicide vests and improvised explosive devices, the statement said.

Last month, a UN counter-terrorism watchdog report said that despite being overtaken by Daesh, al-Qaeda remains resilient in Afghanistan.

Even in its current form, the report said, the Daesh poses the most “immediate threat to global security” and remains stronger than al Qaeda in terms of its “finances, media profile and current combat experience and terrorist expertise”.