Abducted Bangladeshi freed from Taliban militants

MAIMANA (PAN militants had been freed in northern Faryab province, an official said.

The Afghan National Army (ANA) team which conducted a rescue operation on Saturday found the victim, Rafiq-ul-Islam dumped inside a cave with his hands tied, Maj. Mohammad Raza, spokesman for the 209^th Shaheen corps told Pajhwok Afghan News today.

The engineer, working for a road construction company, was in good health but his abductors fled when soldiers reached their hideout in Dash-e-Lila area of Andkhoy district, added Raza.

He was abducted along with his company deputy director on 21st November in Khwaja Dokoh district of Jawzjan province. Local tribal elders managed to mediate with the militants for the release of the director but not the engineer, said district chief Sultan Sanjer.

In another unrelated incident, ANA troops arrested militant carrying explosives on his motorbike in Ghormach district. He was heading to Maimana city, capital of  Faryab, said Raza.

ml/vp