KABUL - Minister of Hajj and Religious Affairs Faiz Mohammad Osmani on Saturday raised concerns over threats which he believes is emerging from extremism in the country, calling for collective efforts to curb the trend.

Speaking at a seminar of Islamic scholars on Saturday, Osmani called for wider efforts to be taken to end the phenomena before it causes more damage.

Religious scholars from across Afghanistan participated at the event where they declared the Taliban insurgency and atrocities of Daesh militants against Islamic principles and human rights.

The scholars said that ongoing insurgency can not be justified as Jihad, adding that those involved in such issues aim to tarnish the image of Islam and Muslims, referring to activities of Taliban and Daesh hardliners.

The three day seminar is aimed at finding a way to curb extremism in the country.

"Comprehensive and effective [measures] weren't taken so far in Afghanistan to combat extremist groups, hence, this makes us to review the ongoing process and map out a scientific and cognitive strategy to tackle the issue," Osmani said.

The Afghan people have long suffered from insurgency in their country, he said.

"The discussion involves a war which is being justified in the name of Jihad, the war which is controlled by foreign intelligence aimed to destroy our home and the country, it is war which is aimed to tarnish the image of our religion, this is not the war for Islam and Islamic values," researcher Mohammad Mohiq said.

The scholars strongly condemned the Taliban insurgency and activities of Daesh militants, announcing it against the human values and Islamic laws.

"The only way to combat this violence and extremism is to seek help from the scholars which can change public mindset," said the head of Herat's Hajj and religious affairs department Sayed Abdul Wahid.

"Today there is a situation in which even the women and the children aren't safe including the scholars and the elderly people," religious scholar Shahzada Shahid said.

"The violence which is emerging from extremism has destroyed the entire nation, if this extremism is not tackled, this will push Afghanistan toward more crisis," head of Badghis religious affairs department Sayed Abdul Halim said. (Tolonews)