Taliban Kidnaps 30 Pakistani Boys in Afghanistan

A group of 30 Pakistani boys were abducted by the Taliban after they unknowingly wandered into Afghanistan during an outing on Thursday.

The boys, ranging in age from 10 to 20, crossed the Afghanistan border from the Bajaur tribal region in Pakistan and were then kidnapped by militants. The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, an Islamic extremist organization that isn't directly connected to the Afghan Taliban government that collapsed in 2001, contacted the teens' families, saying they will detain the Pakistanis indefinitely.

These boys inadvertently crossed into Afghanistan while picnicking on the second day of Eid and were kidnapped by militants, senior local administration official Syed Nasim was quoted as saying by Agence France Presse.

They are likely being held hostage by Maulvi Faqir Muhammad, according to The Hindu. Faqir is a prominent Taliban commander who lives under protection in the Bajaur region.

Terrorists groups have been able to thrive in the lawless border regions between two countries in recent years. While a mass kidnapping hasn't occurred for months, last Saturday more than 40 people were killed in clashes between militants and police in the Chitral district on Pakistan's northwest border.

The incident was the latest diplomatic rift between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Each nation blames the other for the terrorist activities in the mountainous border region.

“The terrorists have organised themselves in Kunar and Nooristan provinces with the support of local Afghan authorities,'' Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence said in a statement.

In 2009, a group of Pakistani students were captured by the Taliban in North Waziristan, which lies near the Afghan border. They were set free days later.