{"id":55425,"date":"2018-08-20T20:37:02","date_gmt":"2018-08-20T20:37:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/08\/20\/afghan-forces-free-most-hostages-taken-in-new-taliban-attack\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T08:24:29","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T08:24:29","slug":"afghan-forces-free-most-hostages-taken-in-new-taliban-attack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/08\/20\/afghan-forces-free-most-hostages-taken-in-new-taliban-attack\/","title":{"rendered":"Afghan forces free most hostages taken in new Taliban attack"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

KABUL, Afghanistan \u2014 Afghan forces rescued nearly 150 people Monday, including women and children, hours after the Taliban ambushed a convoy of buses and abducted them. The quick response marked a rare if limited battlefield success for the troops after weeks of unrelenting insurgent attacks<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The militants <\/a>escaped with 21 captives following the battle in Kunduz province,<\/a> and officials said tribal elders were trying to negotiate their release. Esmatullah Muradi, a spokesman for the governor in the northern province, said the Taliban have demanded the national identifications of the captives to determine their fate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The identities of the captives have not been made public, but Mohammad Yusouf Ayubi, the head of the provincial council, said the insurgents likely targeted the three buses to try to abduct civil servants or members of the security forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\t