Tribal Elders in Talks to Secure Release of ICRC Workers

Security officials in Jowzjan province said that so far efforts of tribal elders to release two kidnapped employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) did not have any positive result. Rahmatullah Turkistani, chief of Jowzjan police, said that some tribal elders of Qosh Tapa district went to the abductors to negotiate the release of the hostages but their efforts were in vain. He added that the abductors rejected the pleas of the tribal elders but he stressed that efforts are continuing for the release of the two. Earlier ICRC called for the safe and unconditional release of two staff members. At least six employees of the ICRC who were carrying supplies to areas hit by deadly snowstorms were killed and two others kidnapped by unknown armed men less than a month ago in Jowzjan province. Daesh militants have not claimed responsibility for the incident yet.