Six police officers killed in gunbattle with Islamic State militants in Afghanistan

Kabul: Afghan officials said six police officers, including a district police chief, have been killed by gunmen affiliated with the Islamic State group in the restive eastern Nangarhar province, which borders Pakistan. [caption id=“attachment_2736734” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File photo of Afghan military soldiers standing guard. Representational image. AP[/caption] Attaullah Khogyani, spokesman for the provincial governor, says that Islamic State-affiliated insurgents attacked the administrative headquarters in Haska Mina district at 2:00 am today. He says 15 Islamic State fighters were killed and seven wounded in the battle that followed. Hazrat Hussain Mashreqiwal, spokesman for the Nangarhar police chief, says six police officers were wounded. Nangarhar has long been plagued by insurgent groups. Last year militants there claimed allegiance to Islamic State and the Taliban sent fighters against them. In recent months, government troops backed by air strikes have claimed success against IS fighters, who are believed to be former Taliban members.