Afghanistan: 19 of 31 abductees released by the Taliban

Thirty one people were abducted from a bus hijacking last February, in Afghanistan. 19 of those were released by their captors.

These people belong to a Persian minority in Afghanistan and were abducted by the Taliban over religious differences.

Afghani President Ashraf Ghani stated that the liberation of the 19 was due to negotiations by the government. According to his statements, no ransom was paid, nor was there an exchange with a Taliban prisoner. The rest of the 12 abductees are expected to be released soon.