Kabul -Nine Afghans, including two children kidnapped days earlier, have been found dead in eastern Afghanistan, apparent victims of Islamist militants, Interior Ministry officials reported Sunday.
The two children - identified as Tayyeb, 8, and Seraj, 10 - were abducted by Taliban militants last week after heading to the village of Maidan in Kunar to sell livestock at the bazaar in exchange for groceries for the upcoming Eid al-Adha feast, an Islamic celebration that comes two months after Ramadan.
The act of selling in the village led to allegations that the boys had been in contact with government officials, perhaps prompting their kidnapping, the ministry stated.
“Police found their bodies on Saturday in a remote area of the district,” it said, denying that the boys had any relationship with local officials.
Taliban officials were not available for comment.
Also, in neighbouring Nuristan province, seven civilians were killed and nine others, including two police, were injured in a missile attack fired by the Taliban, the ministry said.
“The incident took place Saturday evening in a busy area of Do Aab district while the locals were there to buy Eid essentials.”
Afghanistan celebrates the Eid al-Adha feast from Monday through Thursday.
Sapa-dpa