Afghan Taliban seize 13 soldiers after helicopter crash

At least 13 soldiers have been captured by the Taliban after a helicopter crash landed in Afghanistan, killing three of those on board.

The military-contracted civilian aircraft was ambushed after it went down in Faryab province, near the border with Turkmenistan, reports say.

There were unconfirmed reports of foreigners on board.

A spokesman for the US military support mission in Afghanistan said they were not aware of any Americans on board.

A Taliban spokesman said 15 hostages in total had been taken.

"If the army doesn't stop [its rescue attempts] we will execute them," Damullah Wakil told AFP news agency.

With many areas under partial Taliban control, helicopters are an essential means of transport for Afghan troops. Photo: Reuters

There has been heavy fighting in Faryab province in recent months, including an attack on the capital, Maimana, in October.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan on Tuesday, six civilians were killed in two explosions in the capital, Kabul, according an Interior Ministry spokesperson.

A senior tax office official was also killed by Taliban militants in Ghazni province, said local officials.