Five employees of a state-owned bank have been killed by Taliban militants in the western Afghan province of Herat, police officials said on April 10.
The men were on their way from the Kuhsan district to the provincial capital, Herat City, when they were abducted and shot dead by the militants late on April 9, local police spokesman Abdul Ahad Walizada said. The men worked for a local branch of the Central Bank of Afghanistan.
The Interior Ministry confirmed the incident and blamed it on the Taliban, which has kidnapped several government employees and military personnel in the area in the past. There was no immediate comment from the militant group.
Earlier on April 9, the Afghan government said it had released 100 Taliban fighters, bringing the total number of militants released this week to 200. The government has said it will release 1,500 Taliban prisoners before the start of intra-Afghan peace talks with the militants.
The prisoner release is a critical first step to intra-Afghan negotiations aimed at bringing an end to the Afghan conflict.
A U.S.-Taliban deal signed in February also calls for the Taliban to free 1,000 government personnel whom the militant group is holding hostage.
Related
Editors' Picks
Afghanistan/Pakistan Trending
1
European Commission To Suspend Visa-Free Travel For Georgian Diplomats
2Tanker Seized By US Off Venezuela Was Part Of Iranian Shadow Fleet
3Brussels Adds New Names To Blacklist In Latest Russia Sanctions Package
44 Russian Soldiers Sentenced For Killing Of American Fighting For Moscow In Ukraine
5Three Chinese Nationals Killed In Afghan-Tajik Border Attack On Gold Mining Camp
6Tehran Pollution Hits 'Alarming' Level In Latest Environmental Crisis
7NATO Chief Rutte Tells RFE: 'Thoughtful Dialogue' Needed On Ukraine
8Romanian Mayor Says His Village Now 'Part Of The War' Amid Russian Drone Incursions
9EU Holds Talks On China's Support For Russia, Including Possible Weapons Transfers
10In Stark Warning, NATO's Rutte Says Alliance Is 'Russia's Next Target'
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.
