The Ministry of Defense (MoD) on Monday said the Afghan security forces were closing in on Tora Bora in Nangarhar in their bid to clear the area of Daesh militants.

This comes just a day after acting minister of defense Tariq Shah Bahrami said at a press conference in Kabul that Afghan Special Forces and security forces recaptured the Tora Bora area in Pachir Aw Agam district.

"Afghan commando forces are in control of Tora Bora," Bahrami said on Saturday.

However, the MoD's deputy spokesman Mohammad Radmanesh said the operation to clear Tora Bora was ongoing and ground forces were received air support in their operation.

Radmanesh said 11 Daesh militants including a commander were killed on Saturday.

According to Radmanesh, countless mines planted on the roads have slowed down the operation which was launched on Thursday.

"Right now we are in Sulaimankhil area of Tora Bora and the operation, with air support, is ongoing. The mines and explosive devices have slowed down the operation. Yesterday 11 Daesh were killed, including an important commander," said Radmanesh.

Daesh captured the strategic Tora Bora region on Tuesday - the area used as a hideout by Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda, who was killed in a U.S operation in 2011.

"If Daesh controls Tora Bora for a long time, it means they will eventually take control of Jalalabad," Atiqullah Amarkhil, a former military officer said.

Former military officials meanwhile said Afghan security forces must maintain security in strategic areas of Tora Bora after the completion of the operation.

"After the completion of the operation, security forces should build strong fortresses to not let the enemy reach strategic areas anymore," Mohsin Mukhtar, a former military officer said.

The first time Tora Bora was used as a hide-out was by Mujahidin under the command of Mawlawi Mohammad Yunus Khalis in 1979.

After Mujahiddin, Osama bin Laden, the late leader of al-Qaeda, used the area as a hideout; Tora Bora became well-known in the world and was under Taliban control until last Tuesday when Daesh took control of the area.

LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/7137

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