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| Afghanistan | |
| 20 passengers released after kidnapped by Taliban in Helmand | |
| 2016-06-23 | |
| [Khaama (Afghanistan)] At least 20 passengers kidnapped by the Talibs have been released hours after they were taken hostage from a highway in Helmand ...an Afghan province populated mostly by Pashtuns, adjacent to Injun country in Pak Balochistan... province. According to the local security officials, the 20 passengers were among 43 people kidnapped from a highway in Greshk district on Tuesday. The 215th Maiwand Corps of the Afghan National Army (ANA) forces said at least 18 of the passengers were released shortly after they were kidnapped and 20 others were released later on that day. The source further added that the Talibs are still holding 5 passengers as hostage in their custody and efforts are underway for their release.
The majority of the hostages had been released Tuesday evening, Omar Zwak, front man for the governor of Helmand, told AFP earlier, with an army statement saying they were freed in an operation in Marja district. But the Taliban denied the claim, with front man Qari Yousuf Ahmadi telling AFP they decided to free the hostages after they were found to be "innocent". | |
| Posted by:Fred |