KABUL: Over 1,600 Islamic State (IS) militants have been killed in Afghanistan in 2017, according to Resolute Support Mission's (RS) Public Affairs Director Captain Tom Gresback.

The Tolo news reported that IS was being targeted by the combined security forces of the United States and Afghanistan.

According to Gresback, IS is active in only three provinces in the country and ruled out its further threat in Afghanistan.

Gresback called on Taliban to sit on the table with the Afghan Government and do peaceful negotiations to avoid further bloodshed in the country.

"Our message to the Taliban is reconciliation. We will continue to pursue them unabated through the winter months. There will be no breaks during the winter months, it will be a long winter for the Taliban," Gresback said.

The Afghan Government has time and again, refused to acknowledge the rise of IS militants in Afghanistan.