At least 25 passengers have been kidnapped by a Taliban commander in Balkhab district of Sar-e Pul province, officials said on Tuesday.
Assadullah Khurram, a Provincial Council Member in Sar-e Pul said the passengers were kidnapped by a Taliban commander, identified as Mahdi Mujahid, while they were traveling from Balkh province to Balkhab district in Sar-e- Pul.
According to Khurram, Taliban militants have taken these passengers into custody in Kandalik area of Sancharak district.
Protest over the arrest of Nizamuddin Qaisari, a militia commander and a close to Vice President General Dostum entered its ninth day in northern Faryab and Sar-e-Pul provinces.
The protesters on Wednesday shut down the provincial offices of the Independent Election Commission in Faryab and Sar-e-Pul provinces and warned the offices will remain closed until the government makes way for the return of VP Dostum and release of commander Qaisari.
“If our demands were not addressed, we will close the government institutions,” said Ehsanullah Qoyanj, head of Youths Council of Junbish Millie party.
Two Daesh insurgents, wearing burqas, shot and killed 15 Taliban members in northern Jawzjan province on Tuesday, local officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The incident happened in Chaqma Chaqor village of Qoshtepa district of the province after the two Daesh insurgents opened fire on the Taliban who had gathered in the area, the district governor Aminullah said.
The militants affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group have beheaded a man, allegedly over sorcery in northern Sar-e-Pul province of Afghanistan.
According to the local officials, the incident took place late on Tuesday night in the vicinity of the provincial capital.
Sar-e-Pul governor’s spokesman Zabiullah Amani confirmed the incident and said the victim has been identified as Mullah Taj Mohammad who was beheaded in Ganda area of the central city of Sar-e-Pul.
A suicide bomber was shot dead before he manage to target the top government officials in northern Sar-e-Pul province of Afghanistan.
According to the local security officials, the suicide bomber was looking to target the provincial governor and intelligence chief during an official visit to the city.
Provincial governor’s spokesman Zabiullah Amani said the suicide bomber was shot dead seconds before he detonate his explosives.
Amani further added that the suicide bomber was identified as he was attempting to get close to provincial governor and intelligence chief.
