30 passengers kidnapped from Kabul-Kandahar highway bus

Unidentified gunmen have kidnapped 30 passengers from a bus on Kabul-Kandahar highway.
The kidnapping occurred in the jurisdiction of Shah Joy District of southern Zabul Province Monday afternoon where a Se Sad Se (303) Model passenger bus was stopped by unidentified gunmen and the passengers were kidnapped, according to the Afghan (Khaama Press).
Abdul Khaliq Ayoubi, Governor of Shah Joy District confirms the incident.
He said that efforts were initiated for the safe release of the passengers.
No groups including Taliban have claimed responsibility or motive behind the abduction in this southern region of the country.
But in October 2008, 27 to 40 passengers were kidnapped and killed by gunmen in southern Kandahar province and the responsibility of the kidnapping was claimed by Taliban.
Officials said that the people kidnapped were civilians but Taliban insurgents claimed that they were soldiers.
Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi messaged media and said that their fighters kidnapped 27 soldiers from three separate buses and killed them.
But Matiullah Khan Qanih, the then Police Chief of Kandahar Province said that Taliban initially kidnapped 50 passengers, later released 10 but they killed the rest of 40 people kidnapped in Maiwand District.