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Taliban take hostages after attack on bus convoy in Afghanistan Taliban take more than 100 hostage in Afghan bus ambush
(35 minutes later)
The Taliban have ambushed a convoy of buses on a road in northern Afghanistan and taken more than 100 people hostage, in the latest assault by insurgents. The Taliban have taken more than 100 people hostage after ambushing a convoy of buses on a road in northern Afghanistan in the latest assault by insurgents.
The ambush came despite the announcement by the Afghan president, Ashraf Ghani, of a conditional ceasefire with the Taliban during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha this week.The ambush came despite the announcement by the Afghan president, Ashraf Ghani, of a conditional ceasefire with the Taliban during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha this week.
The fate of the hostages in Kunduz province – in an area that has recently fallen under Taliban control – was not immediately known and there was no statement from the insurgents. The fate of the hostages in an area of Kunduz province that has recently fallen under Taliban control was not immediately known and there was no statement from the insurgents.
There has been a resurgence of the Taliban in recent years, with the insurgents seizing entire districts across Afghanistan and regularly carrying out large-scale bombings and attacks that have killed scores of people. There has been a resurgence of the Taliban in recent years, with militants seizing entire districts across Afghanistan and regularly carrying out large-scale bombings and attacks that have killed scores of people.
According to Mohammad Yusouf Ayubi, the head of the provincial council in Kunduz, the attackers stopped three buses on the road near Khan Abad district and forced the passengers to come with them. Mohammad Yusouf Ayubi, the head of the provincial council in Kunduz, said the attackers stopped three buses on the road near Khan Abad district and forced the passengers to come with them.
Ayubi said he believed the Taliban were looking for government employees or members of the security forces who usually return home for the holidays.Ayubi said he believed the Taliban were looking for government employees or members of the security forces who usually return home for the holidays.
Abdul Rahman Aqtash, the police chief in neighbouring Takhar province, said the passengers were from Badakhshan and Takhar provinces and were traveling to the capital, Kabul. “So far, there is no news on the fate of the passengers, but tribal elders and local officials are trying to negotiate with the Taliban,” he said.
“So far, there is no news on the fate of the passengers, but tribal elders and local officials are trying to negotiate with the Taliban,” Ayubi added. Abdul Rahman Aqtash, the police chief in neighbouring Takhar province, said the passengers were from Badakhshan and Takhar provinces and were travelling to the capital, Kabul.
Calling for the truce on Sunday, Ghani said “the ceasefire should be observed from both sides, and its continuation and duration also depend on the Taliban’s stand”.Calling for the truce on Sunday, Ghani said “the ceasefire should be observed from both sides, and its continuation and duration also depend on the Taliban’s stand”.
Ghani made the announcement during celebrations of the 99th anniversary of Afghanistan’s independence, a day after the leader of the Afghan Taliban said there would be no peace in the country as long as the “foreign occupation” continued.Ghani made the announcement during celebrations of the 99th anniversary of Afghanistan’s independence, a day after the leader of the Afghan Taliban said there would be no peace in the country as long as the “foreign occupation” continued.
The militant leader, Maulvi Haibatullah Akhunzadah, reiterated the group’s position that the country’s 17-year war could only be brought to an end through direct talks with the US.The militant leader, Maulvi Haibatullah Akhunzadah, reiterated the group’s position that the country’s 17-year war could only be brought to an end through direct talks with the US.
In a message released on the occasion of Eid al-Adha – and without pointing to any ceasefire – the Taliban leader said on Saturday that the insurgents remain committed to “Islamic goals”, the sovereignty of Afghanistan and ending the war. In a message released on Eid al-Adha – and without pointing to any ceasefire – the Taliban leader said on Saturday that the insurgents remained committed to “Islamic goals”, the sovereignty of Afghanistan and ending the war.
For his part, Ghani said he hoped extensions could also be agreed upon to make the ceasefire last until 20 November, which will mark the birth anniversary of the prophet Muhammad. Ghani said he hoped extensions could be agreed upon to make the ceasefire last until 20 November, which will mark the birth anniversary of the prophet Muhammad.
The government had previously announced a ceasefire with the Taliban during the Eid al-Fitr holiday in June. The Taliban accepted that three-day ceasefire, but later rejected a call by the president to extend it. The government and Taliban agreed to a ceasefire during the Eid al-Fitr holiday in June, but the Taliban later rejected a call by the president to extend it.
AfghanistanAfghanistan
TalibanTaliban
South and Central AsiaSouth and Central Asia
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