Mohammadi News Agency News – Features – Photo
MNA International Desk: At least 70 Afghans were kidnapped Friday from their village along the main highway in the south of the country, and at least seven were killed, police said, accusing the Taliban of the kidnappings.
Around 30 villagers have been released but at least 30 others are still missing, reported news agency.
The highway runs from Kandahar, the largest city in southern Afghanistan, to Tarinkot, capital of Uruzgan province, a poppy-growing area where the Taliban have a heavy presence.
It is not clear why the villagers were targeted. Government officials and security forces are usually the target of such incidents.
It is unusual for the Taliban to go into villages to take civilians as hostages. In general they intercept vehicles on the road, checking to see if passengers have links to the government.
The incident was confirmed by officials at the Independent Human Rights Commission in Kandahar and Kabul in a statement condemning the kidnappings and executions.
