A senior Afghan Shi'ite community leader says Islamic State (IS) militants are responsible for kidnapping dozens of Shi'ite men and boys earlier this year.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Mohaqiq told RFE/RL correspondent Freshta Shikhany on April 4 that two former Taliban leaders, Mullah Mansur Dadullah and Mullah Abdullah Kaka, were behind the abduction.
βIn some places, the white flag of the Taliban has been changed for the black [IS] flag,β Mohaqiq added.
In the mass abduction, masked gunmen seized about 30 passengers from two buses in the southern province of Zabul on February 24 as they were traveling in two buses toward the capital, Kabul, on Afghanistan's main ring-road highway.
According to local officials, gunmen rounded up male Hazara passengers and whisked them away, while women, children, and non-Harazas were left behind.
Afghan Shi'ite Community Leader Says IS Militants Involved In Kidnappings
Related
Editors' Picks
Afghanistan/Pakistan Trending
1
Once Allies, Pakistan And Afghan Taliban Lurch Toward Full-Blown Conflict
2Fierce Fighting, High Number Of Casualties Reported Along Pakistan-Afghanistan Border
3Afghanistan's Taliban 'Here To Stay' As It Gains De Facto International Acceptance
4Kabul Gripped By Fear Of More Attacks After Suspected Pakistani Air Strikes
5Afghanistan And Pakistan Agree Cease-Fire After Deadly Air Strikes And Ground Fighting
6At Least 27 Dead, Scores Injured As Earthquake Rocks Northern Afghanistan
7Afghanistan, Pakistan To Hold Peace Talks In Doha Amid Fragile Cease-Fire
8Afghan, Pakistani Negotiators Begin Talks In Doha After Deadly Clashes
9Taliban Says Peace Talks With Pakistan Collapse But Cease-Fire Will Hold
10Survivors Of Afghanistan-Pakistan Conflict Describe Toll On Civilians
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.