YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, ARMENPRESS. Thirty people have been kidnapped and killed by militants linked to so-called Islamic State in Afghanistan's Ghor province, officials said, BBC reported.

The civilians and two flocks of sheep were taken as they collected firewood in the mountains.

An IS commander was killed during a police operation to free them and the militants killed the civilians in revenge, Ghor's governor told the BBC.

IS is gaining support and challenging the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The dead civilians included children, Mr Khazeh said.

Central Afghanistan has not been known as a centre of IS activity, which has so far mostly been concentrated in Nangarhar state in the east of the country.

The Taliban and IS have been locked in frequent battles in Afghanistan since January 2015.

The Taliban's dominance in a region home to numerous local and foreign militant groups is facing a serious challenge from IS.

There has also been evidence that IS is trying to recruit Taliban fighters, with several Taliban commanders declaring allegiance to IS.