Afghanistan's intelligence agency said on Saturday it had arrested an imam in capital Kabul for recruitment of fighters into Islamic State terrorist group.

Abu Obaidullah Mutawakil, imam of Sheikh Mohammadi Ha Rohani and a university lecturer, was arrested by special forces of the National Directorate of Security from Police District 5 of the city, the agency said in a statement.

He had secretly recruited hundreds of educated youths into IS before sending them to eastern Nangarhar, a stronghold for the group.

Sixteen of his pupils were members of IS, who were arrested from different parts of Kabul for terrorist and anti-government activities, the statement said.

The cleric’s son, Ahmadullah, joined IS last year and is involved in terrorist activities in Nangarhar province, according to the statement.

Mutawakil’s nephew, Asadullah, also joined IS and committed suicide attack in Kabul two months ago.