NATO predicts tough fight in Afghanistan

NATO chief has predicted a tough year ahead for Afghanistan as the Kabul government continues battling the Taliban and other militant groups across the war-torn country.

"We have seen different terrorist organizations trying to establish themselves in Afghanistan...We have seen the presence of al-Qaeda, ISIL (Daesh), the Taliban and all the groups, and they are still in Afghanistan," Jens Stoltenberg, secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, said on Wednesday.

"There is going to be continued fighting and we have to expect that there are going to be new attacks on the government forces," he added.

The remarks come as Daesh terror group has recently gained a foothold in Afghanistan, particularly in Nangarhar Province bordering Pakistan. Daesh has also been using a sophisticated social media campaign to woo local Taliban and other terrorists.

Afghan Ministry of Defense recently said that the Daesh terrorists have killed over 600 civilians in the past six months. According to the ministry, most of the victims were young people who refused to join the Takfiri group. The report also says 20,000 families have been internally displaced as a result of aggression perpetrated by Daesh in the past twelve months.

SS