Taliban fighters may align with IS, warns ex-British armed forces chief

An ex-British armed forces head has warned that hard-line Taliban fighters are likely to align with the Islamic State (IS) terror group.

Speaking to the BBC, General Lord Richards of Herstmonceux, said that he has learned that a very hard-line Taliban was contemplating the prospects of joining the caliphate while others were talking peace, the Daily Express reports.

The ex-Chief of the Defence Staff said politicians needed to be wary of the danger posed by Taliban fighters joining the IS.

Lord Richards said that his worry was that leaders did not understand the scale of the response required and added that a key part of it was to continue training the Afghan forces.

He said that thousands of Western and other allied troops would be required to join in the process of raising and training and ultimately mentoring the Afghan troops as they prepare to go into battle.