Afghanistan Times
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AT-KABUL: The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) in an operation freed 50 civilians taken hostage by the Taliban in southeastern Ghazni province, local officials said Saturday.
The operation was launched Friday night in the Geru district, local officials said.
Provincial police chief, Gen. Aminullah Amarkhel, confirmed the rescue, saying the hostages were kept in a Taliban prison.
He said the Taliban insurgents had kept the civilians on charges of supporting the government and security forces.
According to Gen. Amarkhel, several weapons and ammunition were also confiscated during the operation but no further details were given regarding the casualties incurred to both sides during the operation.
Meanwhile, Dawlat Waziri, spokesman for ministry of defense, said: “45 people were released from Taliban jail in an ongoing military operation in Nani Ghond area.”
“22 of them were policemen who were kept by the Taliban insurgents,” Waziri said.
“Currently, clearing operation is underway in the district.”
The Taliban insurgents have not commented regarding the report.
Ghazni is among the relatively volatile provinces in southeastern of the country where the Taliban insurgents are actively operating in some of its districts.
This comes as Afghan Special Forces raided several Taliban jails in southwestern Helmand province and released at least 101 hostages including civilians from Taliban captivity, Ministry of Defense said earlier this month.
