Taliban release 40 policemen

ASADABAD (PAN militants freed on Thursday 40 policemen who were kidnapped last month in eastern Kunar province, a senior official said.

The policemen were seized on March 27 in Chapa Dara district on the way back to their duty station in Nuristan province. They had come from Waigal district to Asadabad to collect their salaries.

The police officials were released as a result of mediation by local tribal elders, Nuristan Governor Jamaluddin Badr told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Earlier, the fighters had said 50 policemen were in their captivity, and that senior Taliban leaders would decide their fate.

According to residents, the captors had sought the release of a dozen associates in exchange for the policemen. But the governor said nothing about the swap.

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