Taliban release dozens of kidnapped Afghan civilians

Kabul, May 17: Taliban insurgents who kidnapped dozens of people in southeast Afghanistan have released most of them but at least two are still being held, officials said. The insurgents set up roadblocks in the Sayed Karam district of Paktia province, pulling passengers out of cars at gunpoint on suspicion they were government workers before taking them to an unknown location. A total of 25 people who had been abducted were freed, interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said on his Twitter account today. The Taliban who have been waging a fierce insurgency since their regime was toppled in late 2001, confirmed the release. ”The suspects arrested yesterday were released after investigation, only two of them are still under investigation,” spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said on a recognised Twitter account. Provincial police chief Zalmai Uryakhail gave different numbers, saying 38 passengers were kidnapped with three still remaining in Taliban captivity. Earlier this month Kabul secured the release of 19 out of 31 mostly Shiite Afghans kidnapped by gunmen in early February, after what was reported to be a prisoner swap. The fate of the remaining 12 is still unknown.