I.S. says it killed female Afghan media workers

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for an attack that killed three female media workers in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday evening (March 2).

The women, who worked for local broadcaster Enikas TV, were aged between just 18 and 20 years old, and were shot on their way home from work, according to Afghan officials.

Hospital officials say that a fourth woman wounded in the attack is in critical condition.

The victims' funeral was held Wednesday in Jalalabad.

Mohammed Nazif is a relative.

"These targeted killings must be stopped, and there should be security and peace. Many innocent people, especially women, are being killed in such incidents, and I believe what the perpetrators of these attacks are doing is not permissible and a kind of oppression."

Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani condemned the attack, which local police had initially blamed on the Taliban, who denied any involvement.

Violence has risen around Afghanistan and media workers and civil society members in urban areas have been targeted in recent months even as the peace process continues in Doha.

The Afghan government and the Taliban have been holding talks to try to reach a political settlement to end decades of conflict.