KABUL – At least 12 mine-clearing workers were abducted by Daesh insurgentsin eastern Kunuar province on Wednesday evening, local officials confirmedon Thursday.

The incident happened at about 7pm local time in Dara-e-Pech valley ofNangala district of the province when the workerswere clearing an area ofIEDs, a spokesman for the provincial governor, Ghani Musamim said.

He said that “efforts are ongoing to release the deminers.”

According to him, the deminers work for a local company called AREA. He didnot however provide further details.

AP meanwhile reported that Walayut Khan Moshwani, the head of theprovincial council in Kunar, said both local government officials andtribal elders are in negotiations to get the men freed.

Abdul Shakoor Yusoufi, the AREA director, told AP that the 12 included 10de-miners, a team leader and a doctor.

Another AREA staff member, Aref Azami, told TOLOnews also confirmed theabduction but would not give further details.