KABUL - A number of MPs from southern Zabul said that the 30 Hazara passengers who were abducted about three weeks ago on the Kabul-Kandahar highway by armed masked men may have been transferred to the mountainous areas of Khak-e-Afghan area of the province.

The military operation that was conducted to release the hostages has led to the arrest of a female foreign insurgent leader who is being used in negotiations with the insurgent group.

"There no communication or service in Khak-e-Afghan, but we can say that the armed men took the hostages to the nearby caves," Zabul MP Hamidullah Tokhi said. "The talks between the tribal elders and the insurgents failed."

The rescue operation that was underway to free the abducted passengers has now stopped due to weather, according to military officials.

The MPs added that during the operation, the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) described the enemies as affiliates of Daesh and not Afghans because they "were speaking in foreign

There is no news on the location and condition of the 30 Hazaras who have, possibly, been relocated elsewhere in Zabul. (Tolonews)