Taliban terrorists kidnap dozens of passengers in east Afghanistan
Taliban terrorists have abducted dozens of passengers in the eastern Afghan province of Paktia near the Pakistani border.
According to Afghan security officials on Saturday, the terrorists blocked the main road in Syed Karim district and stopped nearly 30 vehicles.
Taliban militants took away dozens of passengers, eyewitnesses said, adding that women and children were among the captives.
Meanwhile, Zalmai Oryakhail, Paktia’s police chief, said a rescue operation is currently underway by Afghan security forces.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that the terrorist group was behind the incident.
All the kidnapped individuals will be freed except the Afghan government servants and officials, Mujahid claimed.
In a similar incident in February, masked gunmen kidnapped 31 Shia Hazaras as they were traveling aboard two buses on the road between Kabul and the western city of Herat.
On April 6, Afghan authorities recovered the dead bodies of two of the hostages in the southern province of Zabul.
The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The offensive removed Taliban from power, but insecurity still remains in some provinces.
The US-led combat mission in Afghanistan ended on December 31, 2014. However, at least 13,500 foreign forces, mainly from the US, have remained in the country in what Washington calls a support mission.
FNR/KA/HMV
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