DUSHANBE, October 12, 2010, Asia-Plus — Two Tajiks, who were abducted by Afghan drug dealers in Shouroobod district, Khatlon province several days ago were released on October 11 and returned home, Amirkhon Ikromov, chairman of Shouroobod district told Asia-Plus Tuesday afternoon.
According to him, one of them is resident of Kulob and the other one is resident of the village of Kisht in Shouroobod district. “Afghans abducted them in the area near the village of Anjirob and took them to Afghan territory,” Ikromov said, noting that the hostages were released on Monday after negotiations.
In the meantime, the source at the power-wielding structures noted that a group of armed Afghans illegally crossed the border several days ago. “They were stopping people traveling between Shouroobod and Sari Chashma and robbing them of money and valuables,” said the source, “During one of such raids, Afghans took two persons hostage and demanded US$5,000 in ransom for each for them from their relatives.” He added that it could not be ruled out that those persons owed money to Afghan drug dealers. According to him, it is unknown whether they were released after their relatives had paid ransom money or for any other reason.
Tajiks living near the border with Afghanistan are falling prey to drug dealers who are taking desperate measure to recover debts, abducting Tajik nationals and holding them hostage until their families pay ransom money to clear debts.
The Shouroobod area is the most vulnerable part of Tajikistan’s common border with Afghanistan, because the 169-kilometer stretch of the border in Shouroobod runs around numerous gorges and ravines. Specialists say this area was poorly guarded even in Soviet times.
