Mohammad Mohaqiq, deputy to Afghanistans Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, April, 4, 2015. Mohaqiq, Afghanistans senior Shiite community leader, said on Saturday the Islamic State group is responsible for the abduction of 31 members of the minority Shiite Hazara community on Feb. 24 in the southern Zabul province. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)(The Associated Press)
Mohammad Mohaqiq, deputy to Afghanistans Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, April, 4, 2015. Mohaqiq, Afghanistans senior Shiite community leader, said on Saturday the Islamic State group is responsible for the abduction of 31 members of the minority Shiite Hazara community on Feb. 24 in the southern Zabul province. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)(The Associated Press)
Ismail, the son of a Hazara man abducted on Feb. 24, shows a photograph of his father during an interview with The Associated Press in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, April, 4, 2015. Mohammad Mohaqiq said two former Taliban leaders, who switched allegiance to the rival Islamic State group, were responsible for the abduction of 31 members of the minority Shiite Hazara community on Feb. 24 in southern Zabul province. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)(The Associated Press)
Mohammad Zahir holds a photograph of his brother, who was abducted in February, during an interview with The Associated Press, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, April, 4, 2015. Mohammad Mohaqiq, Afghanistans senior Shiite community leader, said two former Taliban leaders, who switched allegiance to the rival Islamic State group, were responsible for the abduction of 31 members of the minority Shiite Hazara community on Feb. 24 in southern Zabul province. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)(The Associated Press)
Mohammad Zahir, the brother of a Hazara man abducted in February, holds a photograph of his brother during an interview with The Associated Press in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, April, 4, 2015. Mohammad Mohaqiq, Afghanistans senior Shiite community leader, said two former Taliban leaders, who switched allegiance to the rival Islamic State group, were responsible for the abduction of 31 members of the minority Shiite Hazara community on Feb. 24 in southern Zabul province. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)(The Associated Press)
KABUL, Afghanistan Afghanistan's senior Shiite community leader said on Saturday the Islamic State group is responsible for kidnapping dozens of Shiite men and boys in February.
Mohammad Mohaqiq said two former Taliban leaders, who switched allegiance to the rival Islamic State group, were responsible for the abduction of 31 members of the minority Shiite Hazara community on Feb. 24 in southern Zabul province.
He spoke with The Associated Press on Saturday. It is the first time an Afghan leader has confirmed Islamic State group involvement in the kidnappings.
Mohaqiq, who is a deputy to Afghanistan's Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, named Mullah Abdullah Kaka and his deputy Mullah Mansur Dadullah as behind the abductions.
Muhaqiq says the two prominent Islamic militants have simply "changed their white flag" of the Taliban for the black IS flag.
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Afghan Shiite leader: Islamic State group behind mass kidnappings of Shiite Hazara men