Afghan security forces have freed 149 people abducted by the Taliban hours earlier, but the insurgents still hold 21 hostages, officials have said.

The Taliban's abduction came as a proposed ceasefire started in Afghanistan.

The group had ambushed three buses n Kundaz, in northern Afghanistan, and abducted more than 150 passengers, reportedly including women and children.

But in a rescue operation carried out by Afghan security forces, 149 people were freed and at least seven Taliban insurgents killed, said Nasrat Rahimi, deputy spokesman for the Interior Ministry.

The 21 hostages still held by the Taliban are understood to be members of the security forces - reportedly the main target of the Taliban's ambush.


A spokesman for the provincial governor in Kunduz also confirmed the rescue of the hostages and said the operation was continuing.

President Ashraf Ghani had called for a month-long ceasefire during the Muslim holiday of Eid al Adha, but ithe insurgents acted within hours of it starting.

The Taliban gave the reason for the ambush as a "lack of clarity" over the proposed ceasefire.

They said they will be releasing 500 prisoners, including some Afghan security forces.

Image: The city of Ghazni has seen fighting between Afghan forces and the Taliban

Mohammad Yusouf Ayubi, the head of the provincial council in Kunduz, earlier said he believed the Taliban had been looking for government employees or members of the security forces.

Abdul Rahman Aqtash, a police chief in neighbouring Takhar province, said the passengers had been on their way to Kabul.

A Kundaz governor spokesman added: "The buses were stopped by the Taliban fighters, passengers were forced to step down and they have been taken to an undisclosed location."

Image: A burnt police vehicle after a Taliban attack in Ghazni

The ceasefire was announced by Mr Ghani during celebrations of the 99th anniversary of Afghanistan's independence.

He said: "The ceasefire should be observed from both sides, and its continuation and duration also depend on the Taliban's stand."

It had been hoped the ceasefire could have been observed until November 20, marking the Prophet Muhammad's birthday.

The Taliban accepted a three-day ceasefire during Eid al-Fitr in June, but rejected calls for it to continue any longer.

The Taliban's resurgence in recent years has seen entire districts of Afghanistan fall under its control. Large-scale bombings and attacks by the Taliban have killed scores of people.