DUSHANBE, January 6, 2015, Asia-Plus — To-date, Taliban militants have raised no demands for the release of four Tajik border guards who were captured last month, an official source at one of Tajik power-wielding structures told Asia-Plus today.
According to him, the Afghan law enforcement authorities assure that the release of Tajik border guards is just a matter of time.
“The border guards’ whereabouts has been established and there is reliable information that they are safe and sound,” the source added.
We will recall that Afghan News Agency Khaama Press (KP) on December 20 quoted an official of Kunduz Province as saying that four Tajik border guards have been abducted by Taliban militants.
Taliban militants want to exchange the abducted Tajik border guards for their supporters who are being held in jails in Tajikistan, KP reported.
News website Afghanistan.ru reported that four Tajik border guards were abducted by unknown people in the border area of the Afghan northern Kunduz Province on December 20.
Sarwar Huseini, a spokesman for the Kunduz police department, was quoted as saying that Taliban militants are behind the abduction of the Tajik border guards. Four Tajik border guards allegedly crossed the border to cut firewood in one of forests of the woloswali of Imam Sahib.
Kunduz law enforcement authorities know the whereabouts of the abducted border guards and the operation to free them has already been launched, Ariana TV reported.
Tajik law enforcement authorities have confirmed the information about abduction of four servicemen of the Panj border unit by unknown armed people. An official source at one of Tajik power-wielding structures says the State Committee for National Security of Tajikistan (SCNS) is investigating the incident. He refrained from giving further details.
