Abdul Rashid Dostum, first vice president, on Thursday at a gathering in Jawzjan said that a large-scale military operation will be launched in the north of Afghanistan against “insurgents.”

Gen. Dostum said that in the past three months in Sheberghan, the capital of the Jawzjan, “Daesh” fighters have increased their influence in north of the country.

Earlier this week General Austin Scott Miller, commander of US and NATO Forces in Afghanistan, and acting Defense Minister Asadullah Khalid, met with Gen. Dostum in Jawzjan and discussed the security situation in the north of Afghanistan.

“We discussed the situation in the north where the security threat is at a high level.” Dostum told reporters, adding: “After the meeting, will let you know when and where the operation will be launched.”

Currently, the Daesh insurgents have increased their activities in Faryab, Sar-e-Pul, Jawzjan, Balkh and Samangan provinces, according to the local officials.

“The information shows that Daesh has encampments in some areas where security forces do not have a presence. But we assure you that the Afghan forces, with the aid of Resolute Support, will eliminate Daesh or Al-Qaeda troops that are active in those areas,” said Gen. Wali Mohammad Ahmadzai, commander of 209 Shaheen Military Corps.

Faryab-Jawzjan and Jawzjan-Balkh highways are insecure, and the residents of the provinces have been urged to stay off the highways.