By Xinhua
Islamabad : Armed tribesmen in Pakistan’s northwest Wednesday took hostage 40 Afghans travelling in a bus to press their demand for release of their compatriots arrested in Afghanistan.
The Pakistan-Afghan Friendship bus was heading toward Jalalabad, the capital of eastern Afghan province of Ningrahar, when the tribesmen hijacked the bus at Zakhakhel area of Khyber agency, the News Network International news agency reported.
Witnesses said kidnappers commandeered the bus at gunpoint to an unknown destination.
Kidnappers said they wanted the release of three members of their tribe arrested by the Afghan authorities 20 days ago.
Pakistan and Afghanistan last year launched the friendship bus between Peshawar, the capital of Pakistan’s Northwest Frontier Province and Jalalabad to facilitate movement of people.
Authorities said they have sent patrols to track down the bus and seek release of the hostages.