The Taliban have killed 16 Afghan soldiers and policemen in the Warduj district of remote northern Badakhshan province, an Afghan official said on Wednesday.
The Taliban had seized 23 security personnel following an ambush on a joint convoy of the army and police in the Ghani area of the district three days ago, the governor’s spokesman said.
Abdul Maroof Rasikh told an Afghan news agency that 16 of the captives were later shot dead and their bodies handed over to area residents. Most of the victims were army troops, he said.
Mohammad Khawar, the district chief, said the remaining seven security personnel had been set free as a result of intervention from local elders. After consulting local authorities, he indicated that an operation would be launched soon to clear the district of the militants.
