Islamabad: Five Pakistani Shiites, including
a woman, were killed in Afghanistan's volatile eastern Paktiya
province, nearly two weeks after they were abducted from a
bordering district, local media here reported on Friday.
The five were abducted by unidentified men on August 14
from the bordering Samankani district after they entered
Afghanistan in a car.
Islamabad: Five Pakistani Shiites, including
a woman, were killed in Afghanistan's volatile eastern Paktiya
province, nearly two weeks after they were abducted from a
bordering district, local media here reported on Friday.
The five were abducted by unidentified men on August 14
from the bordering Samankani district after they entered
Afghanistan in a car.
Deputy Governor of Paktiya province, Abdul Rahman
Mangal, said he has asked tribal elders in both Samankani and
Jani Khel districts to find out those responsible for the
abduction and killing of Pakistani nationals.
He said motives behind the killings were unclear.
No group has claimed responsibility for the incident.
This was the second incident of the killing of Pakistani
passengers in Paktiya province in over a year. At least 11
Pakistanis were killed in July last year when unknown gunmen
opened fire on their van in the Samankani district of the
volatile Paktiya province.
Pakistan's Kurram tribal agency has also seen increased
fighting between rival sectarian groups over the past few
years.
Sectarian tension and presence of Taliban militants have
led to closure of several roads, forcing residents to travel
through long and risky Afghan route.
Main roads in Kurram have been unsafe since 2007 due to
frequent attacks by militants and military operations.
Residents, mostly Shiites have no choice but to travel through
Afghanistan to reach their native areas.
They routinely enter Afghanistan's Paktiya province and
cross Torkham border after a long journey to Logar, Kabul and
Ningarhar provinces, according to Afghans.
PTI
First Published: Friday, August 26, 2011, 14:16