Sar-i-Pul: Taliban release 5 health workers

SAR-I-PUL (Pajhwok): Taliban have released a five-member healthcare team that was kidnapped 12 days back in the Kohistanat district of northern Sar-i-Pul province.

Public Health Director Dr. Noor Ahmad Ishaqzai said the captors had asked the Global Fund for Children’s office in the province for money.

He said the demand from the insurgents had been made indirectly through several telephonic contacts but they rejected it.

Later on, the militants abducted five health workers in the Kachan area of Kohistanat district. The medics were released after spending 12 days in Taliban’s captivity.

“We have received Taliban’s massage that they have no problem with public health personnel, who can freely deliver services,” he said, linking the release to efforts by elders, health officials and the governor’s house.

Meanwhile, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said: “We have never created problems for health workers; but issues surface when organisations fail to implement their commitments or avoid spending allocated funds.”

He added the Taliban took action over such irregularities, including embezzlement, in the public interest.

sa/mud