VOA News / December 27, 2015

Afghan officials say a militia controlled by a prominent lawmaker beheaded four Islamic State militants in the eastern province of Nangarhar.

The militia members, loyal to Zahir Qadir, deputy speaker of parliament, have been fighting with IS-affiliated gunmen in the region for weeks. IS fighters recently captured four militia members and beheaded them, prompting the militia to respond by killing four Islamic State fighters in Achin district, according to local officials.

Achin has recently seen an increasing presence of Islamic State fighters.

IS recently launched an FM radio channel in Nangarhar province, broadcasting at least one hour a day to attract young Afghan men disenchanted by dim job prospects.

But local authorities last week claimed to have blocked broadcasts of the so-called “Sadai Khilafat Radio (Voice of Caliphate),” which was airing pro-IS propaganda.

The Islamic State in Afghanistan is competing with the Taliban insurgency and there have been deadly clashes between the two groups in recent weeks.