An Afghan official says the Taliban have killed three government employees abducted last month in western Herat province.

Gelani Farhad, spokesman for the provincial governor in Herat, says the three included two employees from the customs department and their driver. He says they were abducted about 20 days ago and their bodies were found on Monday evening.

Farhad added that there had been ongoing negotiations with the Taliban, carried out by local tribal leaders but despite that, the bodies of the three were uncovered near a road in Islam Qalah area in Herat.

The Taliban have not commented the disappearance of the three workers.

Lately, kidnappings for ransom have increased in Herat.

Farhad, however, insisted the Taliban were behind this latest abduction, though they had made no ransom demands.