Afghanistan Intelligence Agency Arrests Two Suspected Taliban Groups

Afghanistan’s domestic intelligence agency has arrested two suspected terrorist groups in the eastern province of Ghazni, largely under the control of the Taliban terrorist group, Khaama Press reported.

MOSCOW, January 6 (Sputnik) –  According to the National Directorate of Security (NDS), one group, consisting of seven members, was involved in human trafficking while the other, consisting of 11 members, was accused of planting landmines and targeting high-ranking government officials, the news agency reported.

According to Khaama Press, Ghazni has seen an increase in the number of roadside mines. The NDS believes the arrest of the two groups will undermine terrorist activities in the eastern province.

Afghanistan has been facing a surge in attacks by the anti-government Taliban terrorist group. In September, the group was reported to have seized control of strategic districts in Ghazni, where the group is the most active. The Taliban also controls a majority of schools in the province. Ghazni is seen as strategic due to its proximity to the capital Kabul, linked by a main highway.

The Taliban, which is fighting to overthrow the country's new US-backed government of national unity, has intensified its operations while President Ashraf Ghani and his former rival Abdullah Abdullah, now Afghanistan's chief executive, have failed to form a cabinet.

With the lack of a strong government and US forces having formally ended their military operations in Afghanistan on December 30, fears are growing over the power vacuum that has allowed the Taliban to exercise greater control in the country.