[Quqnoos] Gunmen kidnapped 16 de-miners Saturday in Afghan south-eastern province of Paktia, official said. The mine-clearance personnel, affiliated to the UN Mine Action Coordination Centre of Afghanistan (MACA) were abducted in Wochekhas suburb, about 12 km north of the provincial capital, Gardiz. Head of UNMACA in the Afghan south-eastern region, Engineer Shir Agha Ahmadzai, confirmed the kidnapping and urged any involved parties to immediately secure the release of the Afghan humanitarian aid workers.No groups or individual, including the Taliban militants have yet claimed responsibility for the seizure. A purported Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, dismissed any involvements of Taliban insurgents in the kidnapping. He said Taliban militants have 'no problem' with mine-clearance employees.
| Unless it's Taliban mines being cleared ... |
Quqnoos' Neyaz Mohammad Aseel in Paktia said, this is the first abduction case of mine-clearance personnel in the restive Afghan province. Last year, in Paktia's eastern district of Sayed Karam, three health employees were kidnapped who were later released under secret agreements with the kidnappers, Aseel added.
| Recall, there are plenty who claim the name of Taliban who are no more than common criminals... and kidnapping foreigners is practically a sport in Afghanistan, just as it is in Yemen. |