Military pressure in Nangarhar forces 18 ISIS fighters to surrender

JALALABAD -- Eighteen fighters of the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) surrendered in Achin District of Nangarhar Province after the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) increased military pressure on militants in the region.

While the group was comprised of mostly Afghans, three Jordanians and one Pakistani were among the ISIS insurgents who surrendered to the government. They were all shown to the media at the National Directorate of Security (NDS) facility in Jalalabad on October 24.

Nineteen women and 35 children accompanied the men, said local authorities.

The insurgents operated in Haska Mina, Achin, Bati Kot and Ghani Khel districts, where they lived with their families, said Nangarhar Governor Shah Mahmood Miakhil at the ceremony.

"When we conducted operations in various Nangarhar districts such as Surkh Rod and Khogyani districts and the Bandar and Jawdara areas in Achin District," the ISIS members "didn't see any other option -- they had to choose between their death and surrender", he said.

"So, some of them gave up, and if the remaining ones don't follow suit, they will be killed."

Disillusioned with ISIS

Ahmad Zaid, one of the Jordanians, spoke with journalists in English.

Zaid said that he first traveled with his wife to Turkey. They then came to Afghanistan through Iran and settled in the Momand Dara area of Achin.

"I came to Achin two months ago," he said. "I came here for jihad, but then I saw Muslims kill other Muslims here. This is why I chose not to fight, and I came here [to give up]."

"My wife and I walked for two days after we escaped [from that area]," he added. "Most of the terrain was mountainous; we suffered hunger and thirst. Finally, we found someone who showed us the way in exchange for money, and we were able to get here."

Abdul Malik from Marawara District, Kunar Province, was among the surrendering ISIS militants. He spent two years fighting along with his brother, he said.

"We studied at a madrassa where the teachers told us that [joining ISIS] was jihad... but when we came here, we didn't see what we expected," he said.

"We had been trying to escape for a long time, but we couldn't find an opportunity," he added. "One of our friends contacted his father, who told him that we had to run away, and we escaped and joined those people [his friend's father and relatives]."

"They brought us here and handed us over to the government. We are happy that we have come here and abandoned that group," he said.

Abdul Wahab, another surrendering ISIS militant, told reporters that he saw recruits come from all over the world to join the insurgency.

"Fighters came from Russia, Iran, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan and some even from Britain," he said. "There were also militants from Bangladesh and many from Asian countries... the commanders are mostly foreigners."

"Whenever we received a command, we had to take our weapons and get ready for fighting. It was a tough life," he added.

"It was hard to stay inside and very difficult to escape. But it was God's mercy that we were able to run away. About 80% of those who remain there are fed up but don't know how to escape," said Wahab.