Taliban stop vehicles, abduct 25 Afghans

Provincial governor’s spokesperson Omar Zwak says, 18 women and children were released by Taliban after the incident

KANDAHAR/ KABUL: Taliban fighters in the southern Afghan province of Helmand stopped vehicles and detained at least 25 people, officials said on Tuesday, as the insurgents continued a series of abductions on Afghanistan’s highways over the past few weeks.

The pre-dawn incident in Washer district of Helmand comes a day after militants killed more than 20 people, including 14 Nepali guards.

Provincial governor’s spokesperson Omar Zwak said 18 women and children were released by the Taliban after the group stopped a number of buses and cars near the town of Gereshk, on the main highway linking Kabul with the south.“They abducted around 25 people, all men,” Zwak said, adding that police and army were searching for them.

“Our latest report shows they have been taken to Marja district of Helmand. We have started our search and rescue operation,” he said.

A witness told AFP the militants, who were wearing army uniforms, initially detained 37 people. “They released women and children later, but kept the men,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2016.