Taliban militants on Sunday released 24 hostages, who were seized in north-eastern Afghanistan last week, an official said.
Taliban fighters captured Yomgan, a remote mountainous district in Badakhshan province on Wednesday, and took 40 policemen hostage.
Police recaptured the area on Friday.
“Tribal elders negotiated with Taliban and freed 24 hostages, most of who are policemen, but held three senior-ranked officials,” said Nawid Frotan, the governor spokesman for Badakhshan province.
Earlier, Fazluddin Ayyar, the provincial police chief said that 15 policemen were freed in Friday’s operation.
Mr. Frotan said that the three senior-ranked officials were a district police chief, a district prison chief and a member of the secret service.
