MAIMANA (Pajhwok): Two of the four kidnapped tribal elders have been killed by rebels in the Almar district of northwestern Faryab province, an official said on Thursday.

The elders were abducted on Wednesday from the Khudaimat area. The bodies of Hayatullah and Agha Mohammad were found this morning in the district.

Mohammad Saleh Saleh, the district’s administrative chief, told Pajhwok Afghan News Hayatullah was a former jihadi commander and Mohammad head of the provincial developmental council.

Saleh had no clues to the whereabouts of the two elders whom he identified as Sayyed Najibullah and Mohammad Ismail.  The Taliban have not commented on the incident.

nh/rm/mud