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
Why Does Trump Want Afghanistan's Bagram Air Base Returned To US Control?
2Afghan Women, Girls 'Bear Brunt' Of Earthquake Amid Taliban Restrictions
3Afghan Woman Who Lost All Male Relatives In Earthquake Faces New Barriers
4Afghan Taliban Claims Prisoner Exchange With US Is Imminent
5Trump Says US Is Seeking To 'Get Back' Bagram Base Amid Taliban Rule
6Taliban Rulers Seek Outside Help As Workers Race To Aid Earthquake Victims
7This Afghan Teen Is The Sole Survivor From His Family After Deadly Earthquake
8Afghan Children In Pakistan Fear Taliban Schools If Forced Home
9Commandos Airdropped Into Remote Afghan Region In Race To Rescue Earthquake Survivors
10Afghan Man Loses 10 Family Members In Devastating Earthquake
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.