The Taliban militants have abducted five passengers in Maidan Shahr, the capital city of Maidan Wardak province, on Wednesday, April 21, a local police official confirmed.
Mohammad Hoofyani, the spokesperson for Maidan Wardak Police Chief, told Kabul Now that five passengers were abducted in Mullah Khel village of Maidan Shahr while they were on their way—heading from Jalrez district to Maidan Shahr. The armed men who have abducted the passengers are loyal to Abdul Rahman, a local Taliban commander, according to Hoofyani.
He said that the armed men have taken them to an unknown location and a man known as General Mohammad Hussain is also among the abductees.
No group has made an immediate comment in this regard.
Located to the south-western of the capital Kabul, Maidan Wardak is a volatile province where the Taliban control swaths of territories. They often set up checkpoints across Highway 02—a highway connecting Kabul to Bamyan and central highlands.
The group has a long record of abducting civilians and government workers in Maidan Wardak province.
On March 15, the Pashtun-dominated Taliban militant group kidnapped as many as 16 Tajik civilians – all residents of Jalrez district – in Zewalat neighborhood of Jalrez district.
Abbasin Sarwari, district governor of Jalrez, had told Kabul Now that efforts were underway by a group of tribal elders and administration to release the abductees.
There is no report about the whereabouts of the abductees.
