Afghan law enforcers deny report saying IS militants intruded in Tajikistan from Afghanistan

AKIPRESS.COM - A group of militants that attacked the Tajik border outpost in the early hours of November 6 has not crossed the Afghan-Tajik border, Nezavisimaya Gazeta reports with reference to several high-ranking sources in law enforcement agencies of Afghanistan. They said the traces of the group should be looked for beyond the territory of Afghanistan.
The State National Security Committee of Tajikistan said earlier that the group of armed 20 militants wearing face masks attacked the Ishkobod border outpost on the Tajik-Uzbek border, 60 km to the south-west of Dushanbe on November 6. According to official report, 15 terrorists were killed in the operation, the remaining 5 were arrested. One border guard and a police officer were killed in the shootout. The State National Security Committee underscored the gunmen belonged to the Islamic State and penetrated in Tajikistan from the territory of the neighboring Afghanistan.
However the well-informed Afghan law enforcers denied the reports of the Tajik authorities saying the Islamic State militants came from Afghanistan.
"The section of the border in Kala-i-Zal area of Kunduz province, from where according to media reports IS militants intruded into Tajikistan, is guarded very well from Afghan and Tajik sides. Our services would have noticed and prevented the attempt to cross the border not only by a group of 20 people, but even by one person. The border section in Kala-i-Zal area is very difficult for border crossing: militants had to cross the Pyanzh river, which is anything but easy, especially for a group of 20," one of Afghan law enforcers said.
"This is nonsense. Such border crossing is impossible. We and our Tajik colleagues would know about that immediately. Our network of agents allows to have a pretty well understanding of what is happening in border areas," another Afghan law enforcer said.
Another law enforcer suggested that the traces of this group of gunmen should be looked for beyond the territory of Afghanistan.
"Definitely, these people have not come from Afghanistan. Probably, the group was formed already on the territory of Tajikistan. It is hard to say to what degree Islamic State is responsible. It is good that some were captivated, which means important information will be obtained. Hopefully, Tajik colleagues will share this information with us," he said.
The Islamic State has not claimed responsibility for the terror attack in Tajikistan either.