All but one abducted passengers liberated in Faryab

MAIMANA (SW): Among the 82 passengers abducted by the Taliban from Maimana-Mazar Highway a day earlier, all but one passengers have been liberated, an official said on Thursday.

Syed Anwar Sadaat, governor of the northern Faryab province, told Salam Watandar that all the abducted passengers were civilians. He added that the only remaining passenger still under the Taliban’s captivity is an ordinary pharmacist named Abdul Razaq.

A day earlier, Mohammad Hanif, security commander at Mazar-Maimana Highway, said that the kidnapped passengers were shifted to Jangal area, which is under the Taliban control and they would try to do everything to set them free. He added that in the fighting between the militants and security forces, 3 militants have been killed and 3 more have been injured.

The governor on Thursday said he has no idea why the militants abducted these civilians. Maimana and Jawzjan routs, which is located on Kabul-Balkh Highway is one of the most restive and insecure routes in the north of the country.

With the announcement of yearly offensives, the Taliban called upon their fighters to make sure civilians do not get harmed.

ENDS