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Police and villagers hunted on Friday for 13 mine-clearing workers kidnapped less than a week after Taliban militants vowed to step up an abduction campaign.
The de-miners, all Afghans working for a UN-funded land mine-clearance agency, were kidnapped Thursday in eastern Paktia province on the border with Pakistan, said provincial deputy police chief Ghulam Dastager.
In the past, Taliban insurgents have abducted de-miners, but Dastager said it was too early to speculate on the kidnappers, noting criminal gangs also take hostages for ransom.
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Items compiled from Tribune news services
