Taliban Releases Female Member Of Khost Provincial Council

The Taliban has released a female member of Khost Provincial Council after she and her children were abducted for a day.

Zuhra Jalal told Radio Azadi that the Taliban released her and her five children on July 13 after the militant group blocked the road on which they were traveling in Logar Province during a journey from the capital, Kabul, to Khost Province.

Jalal said she was released after mediation by tribal elders and other officials. She said the mediation efforts went all the way to the Taliban's political office in the Qatari capital, Doha.

She told Radio Azadi that the Taliban told her she was being held because she works for an “infidel and American puppet government.”

Asked whether she would be intimidated by the incident, she said she would continue "as long as I live."

"I consider this government legitimate. I consider you [Taliban] an illegitimate group because you are an outlaw and insurgent group," she said, adding that she would also work for a unity government if a peace agreement were reached with the Taliban.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that the group had captured the provincial council member and others accompanying her but did not elaborate on the reason of the incident.

Based on reporting by Radio Azadi correspondents on the ground in Afghanistan. Their names are being withheld for their protection.