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Afghanistan kidnap: Gunmen seize 30 Hazara men in Zabul Afghanistan kidnap: Gunmen seize 30 Hazara men in Zabul
(about 2 hours later)
Masked gunmen in southern Afghanistan have abducted 30 men from the Hazara ethnic minority, officials say.Masked gunmen in southern Afghanistan have abducted 30 men from the Hazara ethnic minority, officials say.
The men were travelling by bus from Iran when they were seized in Zabul province, on the road to Kabul.The men were travelling by bus from Iran when they were seized in Zabul province, on the road to Kabul.
No group has said it carried out the abductions. Kidnappings for ransom are common in Afghanistan.No group has said it carried out the abductions. Kidnappings for ransom are common in Afghanistan.
Unlike in Pakistan, Afghan Hazaras, who are mostly Shia Muslims, have been largely spared attacks by Sunni militants operating in both countries.Unlike in Pakistan, Afghan Hazaras, who are mostly Shia Muslims, have been largely spared attacks by Sunni militants operating in both countries.
Eye-witnesses say gunmen wearing masks and black clothes forced a convoy of two buses to stop in Zabul province, on the road between Kandahar and the capital. Eyewitnesses say gunmen wearing masks and black clothes forced a convoy of two buses to stop in Zabul province, on the road between Kandahar and the capital, on Monday night.
They took the men away but left behind women and children travelling with them. 'Army uniform'
"Our driver saw a group of masked men in Afghan army uniform signalling him and he thought they were soldiers so he stopped," Nasir Ahmad, an official with the busy company, told AFP news agency.
The gunmen took 30 men away but left behind women and children travelling with them.
The passengers had travelled from Iran, via the western Afghan city of Herat.The passengers had travelled from Iran, via the western Afghan city of Herat.
Though no group claimed responsibility, deputy police chief Ghulam Jilani Farahi told CBS News that Islamic State (IS) militants were responsible, whilst District Governor Abdul Khaliq Ayoubi blamed the Taliban, Afghanistan's Tolo News reported.
Interior ministry spokesman Sediq Seddiqi said police were "doing everything to ensure their safe release".
Though tensions exist between Afghanistan's Sunni and minority Shia Muslims, most attacks in Afghanistan in recent years have targeted government officials or international forces, correspondents say.
An exception to this was an attack on a Shia mosque in Kabul in 2011 which killed 55 people.
Foreign troops ended their combat role in Afghanistan in December but some have remained in the country to support the Afghan military.
The nation still faces a bloody Taliban insurgency and US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter said on Saturday Washington was considering slowing its troop withdrawal as a result.
There are also fears that the influence of IS could be growing in Afghanistan, though Mr Carter said "the reports I've seen still have them in small numbers".