General Nicholson criticized Russian estimates on IS militants number in Afghanistan

Beijing. February 27. Silkroadnews - Last week the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan General John Nicholson has rejected the assessment of the “Islamic state” spread in the territory of Afghanistan, the Afghan Telegraph Agency (AfTAG) reports.
“The numbers that are spread about the number of Daesh fighters by Russia is grossly exaggerated. It is around 1,500,” the general said at a Saturday press conference in Kabul.
The commander confirmed the presence of the “Islamic state” fighters in the eastern provinces of Nangarhar and Kunar, as well as in the northern Jowzjan province.
“We have cut their numbers in half over the last two years. We have killed their ‘amirs' (chiefs), we have reduced their territory, again, we have driven their fighters out of parts of the country,” Nicholson stressed.
It is worth noting the number of 7,000 IS militants in Afghanistan claimed by the Russian militaries has never been confirmed by facts.