Taliban abduct 30 passengers in Zabul

The armed Taliban group in southern Afghanistan, Shah joy district of Zabul province stopped two buses traveling to the capital, Kabul, and abducted around 30 people the majority of them belonging to the ethnic Hazara minority.

Muhammad Ashraf Naseri, chief of Zabul province confirmed the incident saying the abduction is under serious investigation by security forces.

Abdul Khaliq Ayoubi, chief district of Shah joy claims that all passengers were from Shiite Hazara minority and were seized by Daesh group.

Abdul Khaliq Ayubi, added that the group all wore black clothing and black masks.

“Our driver saw a group of masked men in Afghan army uniform signalling him and he thought they were soldiers so he stopped,” Nasir Ahmad, an officials said. “The gunmen took 30 Hazaras away with them.”

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the abduction.

The fate of the missing passengers was unknown, said Ghulum Jilani Sakhi, the deputy police chief of Zabul province, where Monday’s abduction took place.

Hazara community is one of the communities on the front line of battle with violent extremism in Afghanistan.