Achin District

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Achin district is located in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan. It is situated in the southern part of the province and has been heaviliy contested by the Taliban and the Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP). In 2015 the district was taken over by ISKP which set off a years-long campaign by U.S. and Afghan government forces to retake the district.

Fall 2019 Government Offensive

In the fall of 2019 Afghan government security forces consisting of Afghan National Army SOF, Afghan Border Police, Afghan Local Police, and local uprising forces under the direction of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) dislodged ISKP from the district. Many fighters and their families either fled or surrended. The Afghan government forces were assisted by U.S. Special Forces and U.S. air support. In addition, the Taliban, operating on their own fought ISKP for areas of the district as well.

News Stories about Achin District

February 5, 2020. "Islamic State's Lingering Legacy in Afghanistan", by Giuliano Battiston, The Diplomat. The defeat of ISKP in the fall of 2019 was definitive but the group's impact is still being felt on the ground. In addition, if government security forces do not remain in the district then the ISKP or the Taliban may recovered lost ground.