Taliban seek AK-47 rifles to free teacher

FARAH CITY (PAN commander had sought half a dozen AK-47 rifles in return for releasing a schoolteacher he kidnapped a day earlier in western Farah province, an official said on Thursday.

Nasir Ahmad was teaching students when Taliban commander, Fazal Rahman entered the class and took him away at gunpoint in Pusht Rud district, the district chief, Ghausuddin, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

After the incident, local elders approached the rebel commander and requested him to free Ahmad, but he demanded six Kalashnikovs in exchange for his release, the official claimed.

A youth council member, Tajmir, also confirmed the Taliban had kidnapped the 23-year-old teacher. But the insurgent movement has so far said nothing about the incident.

mds/ma