AKIPRESS.COM - Abdul Hamid, commander of the 205th military corps said that most of the eliminated militants in southern Zabul offensive were the nationals of Kyrgyzstan, Pajhwok reports.

He added that anti-rebels offensive was launched on Tuesday in the Khakh-i-Afghan district for the recovery of kidnapped passengers. Special forces were landed in the area through helicopters and engaged in fierce fire fight with insurgents.

Majority of rebels, including women, were Kyrgyz nationals. Ten days back, masked gunmen abducted 30 passengers travelling by a bus on the Kabul-Kandahar highway in Shajoy district of Zabul province

The men were picked up from Pash Kandi area on the road between western Herat province and capital Kabul, Mohammad Ullah Ahmadi, the district police chief said.

On Tuesday, Haji Attaullah Jan, head of the provincial council, said at least 60 insurgents were killed and wounded in the ongoing offensive in the province.