World
14:53, 20-Aug-2018
Taliban kidnap at least 100 bus passengers in Afghanistan
Updated
14:09, 23-Aug-2018
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Taliban militants hijacked three passenger buses along with more than 150 passengers in the Khan Abad district of Afghanistan's northern Kunduz province on Monday, said district governor Hayatullah Amiri.
"The incident took place at 4:00 a.m. local time and the Taliban rebels forcibly took the buses to the villages under their control," said Amiri.
He said security forces had launched operations to ensure the safe release of the abducted passengers.
Safiullah Mahzon, deputy to the Kunduz police chief, has also confirmed the hijacked passenger buses, saying efforts are underway to set the hostages free.
The abduction occurred just a day after Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani announced a three-month conditional ceasefire starting from Monday, calling upon the Taliban to follow suit.
The Taliban has yet to respond to the government's ceasefire offer.
Source(s): Xinhua News Agency