WorldHERAT, REUTERS -Gunmen in the remote central-western Afghan province of Ghor rounded up dozens of civilians and executed them on Wednesday in an attack that officials blamed on Islamic State fighters retaliating for the death of one of their commanders. If confirmed as the work of Islamic State, it would mark a major departure for the radical group, which has hitherto been largely confined to the eastern province of Nangarhar since its appearance in Afghanistan at the end of 2014. “Afghan police killed a Daesh commander in Ghor province during an operation yesterday but Daesh fighters abducted some 30 civilians from near the provincial capital and shot them all dead in revenge,” Khatibi said, using a name commonly given to Islamic State. He said the killings followed a militant attack on Tuesday near Feroz Koh, the capital of the central western province. “Our demand to the local and central government is to bombard and destroy the terrorist nests in this province,” said protester Haji Abdul Samad.

Source: Sunday Times October 26, 2016 12:45 UTC