Local security officials on Tuesday said the Taliban had hijacked a bus full of passengers and two trucks in the Greshk district of southern Helmand province.
A police official, who requested not to be named because he is not authorised to speak to the media, confided to Pajhwok Afghan News: “One of the vehicles hijacked is a bus full of passengers while two others are trucks.”
Greshk police chief, Capt. Mohammad Ismail Khpalwak, confirmed the incident that took place in Mohajir Bazaar area at around 7:30am. An operation to rescue the captives was underway, he said, without elaborating.
Provincial police chief, Brig. Gen. Aqa Noor Kintoz also verified the hijacking episode but did not offer more information.
The Taliban have recently stepped up mass kidnapping of passengers on highways. Hundreds of travellers faced similar situations in Kunduz and Takhar provinces in recent days.
