Taliban Militants Abduct Some 50 Police In Afghanistan

Afghan police officers are high profile targets for the Taliban

The Taliban says it has kidnapped about 50 Afghan police officers. Provincial officials confirmed the abduction.

The officers were abducted in the Chapa Dara district of remote northeastern Kunar Province after returning from neighboring Nuristan Province, where they had travelled off duty to collect their salaries.

They had just completed their training to join the Afghan police.

Taliban-led militants have stepped up their fight against the Afghan government and its Western backers in recent months, as allied forces prepare to hand security responsibilities for seven areas to Afghan forces in July.

compiled from agency reports