Abducted soldiers found dead in Ghazni

GHAZNI CITY (Pajhwok): Five Afghan National Army (ANA) service members, who were abducted four days ago, have been found dead in southern Ghazni province, the military said on Monday.

Suspected Taliban-Kandahar Highway in Spin Band area of Qarabagh district four days ago.

Local officials had said a search operation has been launched to secure the release of the soldiers. However, on Tuesday, the provincial government confirmed the five had been found dead.

Nazifullah Sultani, the 203rd Thunder Military Corps spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News bodies of the abducted soldiers were found in Malook area.

He said the Kandahar-based ANA troops were travelling home in private vehicles when they had been seized.

Shafique Nang, the governor’s spokesman, said the soldiers had been killed last night.

Afghan Local Police (ALP) commander Mohammad Azam said they had been searching for the missing soldiers, but failed to locate them.

A resident of Malook area, Roohullah, said armed militants last night dumped the bodies of the soldiers in front of a mosque. He said residents informed security forces, who took away the corpses.

Civil Hospital Director in Ghazni City, Baz Mohammad Himmat, confirmed receiving three bullet-riddled bodies of soldiers. There has been no word from the Taliban about the deaths in captivity.

ma/mud

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