Daesh militants abduct, kill 30 Afghan civilians

KABUL: Militants linked to Daesh terrorists abducted and killed around 30 civilians, including children, in central Afghanistan, officials said Wednesday, raising concerns about the group’s expanding presence beyond its eastern stronghold.

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

Daesh, 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 local shepherds conducted an operation and killed a Daesh commander yesterday,” Ghor Governor Nasir Khazeh told AFP.

“Daesh fighters in retaliation abducted around 30 villagers, mostly shepherds. Their dead bodies were found 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 Daesh.

The UN put the death toll at 26, while condemning the “senseless and brutal killings.” It added that the fate of a number of other hostages remained unknown.

The devastating attack represents a major escalation for Daesh, which has so far largely been confined to the eastern province of Nangarhar where it is notorious for brutality including beheadings.

The killings also underscore Afghanistan’s unraveling security situation as the resurgent Taliban ramp up their 15- year insurgency against the Westernbacked government.

Daesh fighters have been trying to expand their presence in Afghanistan, winning over sympathizers, recruiting followers and challenging the Taliban on their own turf, primarily in the country’s east.

In March Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announced that the militants had been defeated after local security forces claimed victory in a monthslong operation against the group.

But Daesh militants have continued to launch deadly strikes in the country.

“(Daesh) announces its emergence in Ghor by murdering dozens of civilians,” said Borhan Osman, a researcher with the Afghanistan Analysts Network in Kabul.