Taliban insurgents, that swear allegiance to IS, abduct and kill 20 in Afghanistan

Taliban insurgents have killed at least 20 civilians after they were abducted in a remote central province of Afghanistan, police officials say.

Ziauddin Saqib, deputy provincial police chief in Ghor, said the 20 were from a group of 33 taken by militants near the provincial capital of Ferozkoh.

The abductions took place while battles were under way between the Taliban and Afghan security forces on Tuesday that saw two militant commanders killed.

Abdul Hai Khateby, spokesman for the provincial governor in Ghor, said on Wednesday that the militants behind the attacks and abductions were a renegade Taliban group that swore allegiance last year to Afghanistan's Islamic State affiliate.