KABUL, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Afghan security forces have arrested two key Islamic State (IS) members and two militants loyal to the IS outfit following a search operation in eastern Laghman province, Afghan Interior Ministry said Sunday.

The operation was launched Saturday night in Qarghayi district of Laghman, where two key members of the IS network were arrested and some arms and ammunition including a rocket launcher and PK-Machineguns have been confiscated, the ministry said in a statement.

Two IS affiliated insurgents have also been arrested following the overnight search operation from the same area, the statement added.

The security forces also found and defused an improvised explosive device (IED) during the raid.

The IS militant group, which emerged in eastern Afghan region in early 2015, has not made a comment on the report so far.