Khost, Afghanistan - Taliban insurgents abducted 27 people in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday, setting up a road block and pulling them from their vehicles at gunpoint in the latest mass kidnapping in the war-torn country.
The incident took place in the Sayed Karam district of southeastern Paktia province, said provincial council member Mohammad Rahman Qadery. The hostages were taken to an unknown location, he said.
"We are not sure why they have abducted civilians, but we have deployed police reinforcement to free the passengers," provincial police chief Zalmai Uryakhail told AFP.
Local elders were also involved in negotiations to free the abductees, he said.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said on Twitter the group was holding the 27 people on suspicion of being government workers.
Mujahid said they had identified eight government employees while the remaining 19 were being "investigated".
There has been an increase in kidnappings by militant groups in Afghanistan this year.
AFP
