At least 19 people including bus passengers and policemen were abducted by Taliban from a check post on the Kandahar-Uruzgan highway on Wednesday morning, local officials said. 

Kandahar Police Chief Gen. Abdul Raziq said the incident took place in Chora district of Uruzgan but that efforts are being made to secure the release of the hostages. 

He said among the hostages are policemen. He did not however give details on how many civilians or how many policemen were abducted. 

Raziq said the policemen were captured after a clash with the Taliban. 

A source from Kandahar police said the incident started when a group of Taliban wearing ANA uniforms attacked a police check post along the highway and killed five policemen and wounded four others. The Taliban then stopped the bus and pulled passengers off.  

The Taliban has not yet commented on the incident.