Taliban attack buses in Afghanistan, abduct 60 peopleJune 21, 2016 - 13:53 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - An Afghan official says Taliban insurgents have attacked a convoy of buses and cars in southern Helmand province and abducted around 60 people, the Associated Press reports. Mohammad Ismail, a district police chief in Helmand, says initial reports show the attack happened in Gareshk district. He says the Taliban forced the vehicles to stop at gunpoint. It's not known where the Taliban have taken the abducted passengers. Taliban spokesman Qari Yusouf Ahmadi says the insurgents still hold 27 of the abducted but freed the others. Earlier this month, the Taliban killed 12 people they had captured, including policemen and soldiers, in eastern Ghazni province. Last month, Taliban-linked insurgents killed at least nine people after seizing passengers off buses in northern Kunduz province. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |