Taliban (3)Local officials say that Taliban had established a check point in Khan Baba area of Andar District where they dragged out dozens of passengers from different vehicles and took them to unidentified location on Saturday.

Mohammad Ali Ahmadi, Deputy Governor of Ghazni province the passengers were ordinary civilians who were on their way to Ghazni city for IED shopping.

He said militants abducted them believing that among them there might be people who have taken weapons against Taliban.

According to Ahmadi, most of them were released the same day but three of them are still in the custody of Taliban.

Meanwhile, an elder of Andar District has told media on condition of anonymity that 13 hostages remain with Taliban.

Residents of Andar District have been fighting with Taliban from several years. They took their weapons against the militant group when insurgency surged in their areas.