This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-45244339
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Afghan Taliban kidnap dozens of bus passengers near Kunduz | Afghan Taliban kidnap dozens of bus passengers near Kunduz |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| About 150 people are reported to have been kidnapped after Taliban militants launched an ambush on three buses in northern Afghanistan. | About 150 people are reported to have been kidnapped after Taliban militants launched an ambush on three buses in northern Afghanistan. |
| A Taliban spokesman said they were targeting security forces travelling on the buses, adding the civilians would be released. | A Taliban spokesman said they were targeting security forces travelling on the buses, adding the civilians would be released. |
| It comes a day after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani offered a conditional three-month ceasefire to the Taliban. | |
| The offer was rejected by the militant group's leader on Monday. | |
| According to Reuters news agency, Sheikh Haibathullah Akhunzada said fighting against the government would continue. | |
| However, the Taliban had earlier said it would release "hundreds" of "enemy prisoners" to mark the start of the Islamic holiday, Eid-al-Adha. | |
| The attack on Monday saw the bus passengers taken to "an undisclosed location" after being forced from the vehicles, according to Esmatullah Muradi, a spokesman for the Kunduz governor. | |
| The buses were travelling along a highway in an area under Taliban control, en route to the capital Kabul. | The buses were travelling along a highway in an area under Taliban control, en route to the capital Kabul. |
| Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban, told Reuters they attacked the bus after "intelligence inputs revealed that many men working with Afghan security forces" were on board. | Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban, told Reuters they attacked the bus after "intelligence inputs revealed that many men working with Afghan security forces" were on board. |
| "We have taken the buses to a safe area to prevent any clashes and we are now identifying members of the security forces," he added, saying civilians would be released. | "We have taken the buses to a safe area to prevent any clashes and we are now identifying members of the security forces," he added, saying civilians would be released. |
| According to provincial officials, however, the majority of the passengers have already been released, with just 21 still in the militants' hands. | According to provincial officials, however, the majority of the passengers have already been released, with just 21 still in the militants' hands. |
| The Taliban have launched several attacks in recent weeks. | The Taliban have launched several attacks in recent weeks. |
| The largest was the assault on the city of Ghazni, east of Kabul, which sparked a five-day battle with government forces that left hundreds dead or wounded. The UN has warned that up to 150 civilians may have been killed. | The largest was the assault on the city of Ghazni, east of Kabul, which sparked a five-day battle with government forces that left hundreds dead or wounded. The UN has warned that up to 150 civilians may have been killed. |
| But these attacks come as pressure continues on the Taliban to enter peace talks with the Afghan government. | |
| Secret talks were recently held in Qatar between Taliban and US officials after an unprecedented three-day ceasefire during Eid al-Fitr celebrations in June that was largely respected by both sides. |