Nangarhar local government on Monday said they are trying to release 14 Ministry of Education (MoE) staff members who were kidnapped by Daesh on Sunday from Kot district.
 
The MoE staff were taken during exams at a school in Kot by a group of Daesh militants.
 
“Investigations have started, to secure the release of the kidnapped people, in cooperation with the Ulema and tribal elders,” said Attaullah Khogyani, the Nangarhar governor’s spokesman.
 
The MoE released a statement on Sunday and said education services are non-political and non-military and that kidnapping MoE staff does not have any justification and that the kidnapped people should be released.
 
Nangarhar is the province where Daesh is the most active in the country and where security forces have been carrying out operations in a bid to eliminate them.
 
“When government clears a region … then security forces do not set up bases there and do not keep the region (free of insurgents). Daesh fighters go up to the mountain and when security forces leave the area, they come down,” said Saima Khogyani, an MP.
 
However, there is speculation that some groups and individuals claim to be Daesh when planning illegal actions.
 
“Daesh is not from Iraq or Syria. They are being supported and trained by some foreign countries and then sent to Afghanistan,” said Naqibullah Mohabbat, another MP.