2nd LD Writethru: Militants kill 36 Afghan civilians in revenge attack

About 36 civilians were shot dead by militants in Afghanistan's western province of Ghor Tuesday night, the provincial governor confirmed on Wednesday.

"The security forces and allied local uprising fighters repelled a militants' attack on outskirts of provincial capital of Firoz Koah late Tuesday. The clashes left several attackers killed and injured. The militants kidnapped civilians after the battle and killed them overnight in a bid to avenge their defeat," Governor Mohammad Nasir Khazah told Xinhua.

Among the killed militants was a local insurgents' commander named Mullah Farooq, he said.

"The killed villagers were innocent sheepherders and farmers who were busy working in their farmlands before being captured. The government forces will bring to justice the perpetrators behind this inhuman act," the governor said, adding the incident took place in Ghalmine and Murghab localities.

No group has claimed responsibility yet for the attack in the province, 360 km west of the Afghan capital of Kabul.

However, local officials have blamed the militants affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group for the killing.

Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani condemned the attack and expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, according to a statement issued by the country's Presidential Palace.

More than 2,560 civilians were killed and over 5,830 injured between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30 this year in conflict-related incidents across Afghanistan, according to the latest figures released by UN mission in the country.

Ground engagements remained the largest cause of civilian casualties, followed by suicide attacks and improvised explosive device (IED) explosions. Endit