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Isis and Taliban join forces in deadly attack in Afghanistan

A spokesman for the Taliban has denied the two groups have joined forces 

Monday 07 August 2017 20:52 EDT
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A member of a breakaway faction of the Taliban guards a gathering in Afghanistan (file photo)
A member of a breakaway faction of the Taliban guards a gathering in Afghanistan (file photo) (AP)

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Isis and the Taliban have joined forces in a deadly attack on a village in Afghanistan, it has been reported.

At least 50 people died in the attack as militants from the two groups targeted the Mirzawalang area of Sar-e-Pul province.

A Taliban spokesman denied that the two groups had joined forces.

"It is completely wrong, it is propaganda of our enemy, Isis is our enemy, there is no Isis in Sar-e-Pul. Our commander in Sar-e-Pul is called Ghazanfar, who is not an Isis," Zabiullah Mojahid, a Taliban spokesman, told CNN.

Local officials have claimed the two groups beheaded a number of people and the area was secured within 48 hours.

The governor of the district said local authorities had requested air support to take out the militants, but it was refused.

“Despite several demands for air support and the special forces, the demands were ignored by central government. They told us the air force was busy in other provinces,” Sharif Aminyar told the New York Times.

Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, another Taliban spokesman, denied any civilian deaths and brandished it “propaganda”.

Mr Ahmadi said "only 28 local militia were killed" and said that their bodies were given to locals.

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