News / Afghanistan

78 Afghans freed from Taliban captivity

Monday, 08 February 2016 5:27 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 08 February 2016 5:27 AM ]

Afghan fighters stand on an armed vehicle along a road in the Almar district of Afghanistan’s northern Faryab Province, October 16, 2015. (Photo by AFP)

Almost all of the 80 people recently kidnapped by the Taliban militant group in Afghanistan’s northern province of Faryab have been freed by the Afghan National Police (ANP).

The 80 individuals were traveling on two buses in the Qaramqol district of the province on Sunday evening when the militants stopped their vehicles and abducted them, the ANP said in a statement.

The police force added in the statement that it launched an operation to free the hostages following the incident. Local police officials said Taliban militants managed to take six of the passengers away with them during the raid by police, who later managed to free another four. Two individuals remain in Taliban captivity.

Faryab is one of the troubled provinces in northern Afghanistan where anti-government militant groups are involved in acts of terror, including the kidnapping of civilians.

Afghanistan is gripped by insecurity over 14 years after the United States and its allies invaded the country as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The 2001 attack overthrew the Taliban, but many areas across Afghanistan still face violence and insecurity.

Afghan forces have been engaged in military operations across the country to end the Taliban-led militancy and violence.

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