Seven employees of a private construction firm were abducted in Nahr-e-Shahi district of Balkh province on Friday, the Balkh urban development director Abdul Basit Aini said.

He said blamed the Taliban for kidnapping the employees of the company. The Taliban so far has not commented on the incident.  

The employees were on duty in Langar Khan area in Nahr-e-Shahi district when they were abducted, Aini said.

He added that the Taliban took with them an excavator, a roller and a vehicle.

Aini said three employees of the same company were abducted by the Taliban last month and were released after mediation by local elders.

Balkh police said an investigation has started into the incident.