IS militants abduct, kill 30 in Afghanistan

Kabul, October 26 

Militants linked to Islamic State jihadists abducted and killed around 30 civilians, including children, in central Afghanistan, officials said today, raising concerns about the group’s expanding presence beyond its eastern stronghold.

The killings occurred yesterday north of Firoz Koh, the capital of Ghor province, with the local government calling it a revenge attack after a local IS commander was gunned down.

The IS, which controls territory across Syria and Iraq and is making steady inroads in Afghanistan, has so far not officially claimed responsibility for the attack.

“Our security forces with the help of locals conducted an operation and killed a Daesh (IS) commander yesterday. Daesh fighters in return abducted around 30 villagers, mostly shepherds,” said Ghor Governor Nasir Khazeh. “Their bodies were found by local people this morning.”

Abdul Hameed Nateqi, a Ghor provincial council member, gave a similar account to AFP, adding that the assailants were Taliban renegades who had sworn allegiance to IS.

The killings underscore Afghanistan’s unravelling security situation as the resurgent Taliban continue a push into urban centres 15 years after they were toppled from power. IS fighters have been trying to expand their presence in Afghanistan, winning over sympathisers, recruiting followers and challenging the Taliban on their own turf, primarily in the country’s east. — AFP