FAYZABAD (SW): Efforts are underway to liberate some 180 besieged security personnel taken hostage by the militants in the north eastern Badakhshan province, official said on Sunday.
Laal Mohammad Ahmadzai, spokesman for the provincial police department has said mediations at the local level were underway to ensure safe release of the men.
Earlier, authorities in the north eastern province said supply line to these men stationed in the mountainous Warduj district was cutoff due to harsh weather and road blockages.
Sakhidad Khan, deputy provincial police head said that the besieged men eventually surrendered to the militants. He told SW some men in uniform managed to escape the posts before the militants took control.
There are conflicting reportings about the way security personnel surrenderd.
Locals informed that the security personnel resisted the militants for four days before going short of weapons and ultimately surrendering.
Dawlat Muhammad Khawar, district chief in Warduj said some eight soldiers got killed in the clashes. Warduj district chief added that the besieged security personnel belonged to the Afghanistan Local Police (ALP) and the Afghanistan Border Police (ABF).
Khawar claimed the men had enough ammunition to fight but instead they struck a deal with the rebels and surrendered.
ENDS
