Taliban claims snatching passengers on highways is not kidnapping KHAAMA PRESS – Tue Jun 21 2016

The Taliban militants group in Afghanistan has claimed that snatching passengers from the highways is not an act of kidnapping.
The Taliban group spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid issued a statement following the kidnapping of scores of passengers in Helmand province.
In his statement, Mujahid said the Taliban fighters took passengers from at least 3 buses with them amid suspicions they work for the security institutions of the country.
Mujahid further added that 27 people were taken by the Taliban militants and the remaining militants were released after they went through a preliminary interrogation process.
He said the remaining 27 people would be released if found not guilty or would be handed over to the judiciary of the Taliban group if they had role in working with the security institutions.
The Taliban militants have stepped up hostage takings across the country during the recent weeks as the group claim they abduct security personnel and government officials traveling in the highways.
Numerous kidnapping incidents have taken place in northern Afghanistan following a major kidnapping incident that took place late last month in northern Kunduz province.
At least 185 passengers were kidnapped as they were traveling on the main highway in Kunduz last month but majority of them were released after they were interrogated.
The Taliban militants killed at least 17 of the abducted passengers after they were accused of working for the government.http://www.khaama.com/taliban-claims-snatching-passengers-on-highways-is-not-kidnapping-01318