SHEBERGHAN, Afghanistan, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- As many as 35 civilians have been kidnapped by militants loyal to both the Islamic State (IS) and the Taliban in northern Afghanistan's Jawzjan province, locals said Sunday.
"Both IS and the Taliban have created checkpoints along the way between Qush Tipa and Darzab districts of the province, arresting individuals on charges of having links with the other side, as recently, 35 people, all civilians, have been taken in hostage by the two rival groups," local residents said.
Meanwhile, Nasratullah Jamshidi, the press officer of the 209th Shaheen Corps of the Afghan National Army, confirmed the incident, saying he had received such a report.
Fighting has escalated in Afghanistan as the Taliban insurgency spreads from its traditional strongholds in the south and east to the once peaceful region in the north, where the militants have been recruiting from among the youth.
