Local officials from Kunduz said that three passenger buses were seized early Monday morning while traveling on the Takhar-Kunduz highway.



A member of the Passenger Bus Union told TOLOnews that about 170 passengers were on the three buses at the time.



Safiullah Mahzon, Kunduz security director, said that the incident occurred on Sunday when three passenger buses were on the way from Takhar province to Kabul when they were stopped by the Taliban in Khan Abad district of Kunduz province. He said the passengers were taken to Nikpe village.



Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior said that Taliban abducted 170 passengers in Sunday night and released 149 of them.

The MoI said 21 others who are youths were taken hostage by the Taliban who took them to Jangal Bashi area of Khan Abad district of Kunduz province.



The Taliban has not yet commented.