More than 150 Islamic State group fighters surrendered to Afghan security forces after the Taliban said they had driven their rival militants from the north of the country in weeks of heavy clashes.

The Taliban said they had freed Jawzjan province from “the evil phenomenon” of the regional branch of Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (Isil), and locals had been “freed from its tortures”.

The rival groups have fought since small groups of militants first pledged allegiance to Isil in early 2015, but fighting has escalated as the newcomer has spread from its Nangarhar stronghold.

Thousands of civilians have fled heavy fighting between the groups as large numbers of fighters have clashed across the country in recent weeks.

A Taliban statement said more than 100 Isil militants had been killed in the three-week operation involving Taliban fighters mobilised from five provinces. In the wake of the fighting 152 Islamic State group fighters surrendered from the areas of Darzab and Qush Tepa , Afghan officials said. Mawlawi Habiburrahman, commander of Islamic State forces in the north, and another commander called Mufti Nematullah were among those who gave themselves up.