AYBAK, Afghanistan, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Anti-government militants abducted 40 truck drivers in the northern Samangan province on Sunday, provincial police spokesman Mohammad Munir Rahimi said.

"The armed Taliban rebels stopped 40 to 45 trucks carrying coal in Khashak Dara village of Dara-e-Suf Payen district today... and took their drivers, possibly 40 drivers or more to unknown locations," Rahimi told Xinhua over phone from provincial capital Aybak city.

Search operations are underway for the release of the abductees, the official said.

Taliban militants have yet to claim responsibility.

In a similar incident, Taliban militants abducted 25 commuters in the neighboring Sari Pul province last week, according to local officials.