KABUL: A group of foreigners abducted by Afghan Taliban in eastern Afghanistan after their helicopter in which they were travelling made a forced landing on Sunday evening in Azra district in Logar province are well and have been moved to a “safe area” inside the country, a spokesman for the militants said on Tuesday.
“They have been moved to a safe area, they have no health problem and they are fine. They are inside Afghanistan,” spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said by phone from an undisclosed location.
The Taliban leadership will decide what to do with the group which includes eight Turks, a Russian, a Kyrgyz man and an Afghan, he said.
The Taliban on Monday claimed that nine of the group were Americans and two were Afghan interpreters, but appeared Tuesday to back away from that assertion.
“We are still receiving information but initial information obtained from our mujahedeen (holy warriors) said that they were American,” the spokesman said. “We will have to wait for more information.” Asked what would happen to the group, he said: “The Taliban leadership will decide.”
DND
