1st LD: 17 civilians kidnapped in N. Afghan province: official

Some 17 civilians had been kidnapped by armed men in Afghanistan's northern province of Sari Pul, a local official said on Thursday, the second kidnapping attack in the country within a week.

"Armed men intercepted two minibuses and a truck late on Wednesday along a road connecting provincial capital Sari Pul city to Balkhab district. The attackers shifted the passengers to an unknown location," provincial Governor Zahir Wahdat told Xinhua.

Efforts by security forces and local elders were underway to secure the safe release of the kidnappees from militants' custody, the official noted.

The attack seems to be a retaliation act by the militants as the villagers in Balkhab had recently helped security forces to locate and detain a Taliban local leader, according to locals. Endit