Missed the bus: Militants abduct seven soldiers from Jand

Militants stopped the bus and abducted the soldiers, but chose to let a sweeper go.

ISLAMABAD: Just days after militants abducted and later killed 21 Levies forces, armed militants, reportedly wearing military colours have abducted another seven soldiers near Jand, in Punjab, military officials told Reuters on Wednesday.

Military official said that the officials were travelling via bus from Rawalpindi to their stations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They led off seven soldiers but let go a sweeper who was travelling with them.

The gunmen were wearing military uniforms, other sources said.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility by the Taliban, who do maintain forces in the area.

Last week the Taliban kidnapped 23 pro-government Levies forces following raids on at least three check posts. Of them, the Taliban executed 21. One man escaped and another was badly wounded – he later succumbed to his injuries in hospital.