The Taliban militants have kidnapped at least forty three people working on a road project in southern Kandahar province.
The provincial police commandment in a statement said at least thirteen employees of a road construction firm were abducted by the Taliban militants.
The statement further added that the construction workers were abducted late on Thursday following an attack in Spin Boldak district.
However, an official of the company said at least 43 workers working on a road project were kidnapped during the attack by the Taliban militants.
This comes as local official had earlier said at least 13 engineers and twenty security guards of the road construction engineers were abducted.
The source further added that four security personnel also lost their lives during the clashes with the Taliban insurgents.
According to the official, the security forces had launched an operation to rescue the abducted individuals when a clash broke out, leaving four security personnel dead.
The anti-government armed militant groups including Taliban insurgents have not commented regarding the report so far.
This comes as the security situation in southern Kandahar province had improved during the recent years.
However, the anti-government armed militants are attempting to expand their insurgency in this province amid ongoing violence in the neighboring provinces, including the restive Helmand.
