JALALABAD: Taliban militants kidnapped 21 tribal elders in Afghanistan close to the Pakistani border whose relatives apparently work for the Afghan government and NATO, an official said Monday.

The incident happened eight days ago in Marawara, in the eastern province of Kunar, which borders Pakistan's lawless tribal district where Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked networks have carved out strongholds.

“The Taliban first called them for a meeting at a mosque and after a discussion, the Taliban took all the elders away to an unknown place,” the local official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

“Negotiations have started with the Taliban for their release, but have produced no result so far”, he added.

Taliban militants have been leading a nine-year insurgency against the Western-backed Afghan government and foreign troops since the 2001 US-led invasion brought down their Islamist regime in Kabul.

A local Taliban commander identified as Qari Zia-ur-Rahman claimed responsibility for the abduction by SMS to an AFP correspondent.

“The reason behind this act is that some relatives, sons and close family members of these men, work in the Afghan army, Afghan police and some with NATO”, he explained.

“Unless these people do not resign their jobs with the army, police and NATO, we will not release the hostages”, he added.

Afghan police and other local authorities refused to comment. – AFP