Kabul: Seven Indian engineers and an Afghan national working for a power plant in northern Baghlan province of Afghanistan were kidnapped Sunday, officials said.
Zabihullah Shuja, spokesman for Baghlan police, said the engineers were travelling to a government-run power station in a minibus when unknown gunmen abducted them and their Afghan driver. They were abducted while travelling to the area, where the company owns an electricity sub-station contract, he said.
The armed men abducted seven Indians and one Afghan employee of Indian company KEC in Bagh-e-Shamal village of the provincial capital Pul-e-Khomre, TOLOnews reported, citing local officials.
A senior Indian embassy official said over 150 Indian engineers and technical experts are currently working across Afghanistan on large infrastructure projects.
In response to queries on the report of abduction of the Indian nationals in Afghanistan, external affairs ministry spokesperson in New Delhi said, “We are aware of the abduction of Indian nationals from Baghlan province in Afghanistan. We are in contact with the Afghan authorities and further details are being ascertained.”
“We are working out ways to ensure the release of our engineers,” the official said. It is not known who is responsible for the kidnapping or whether a ransom has been sought for their release.
Baghlan provincial council has linked the incident to the Taliban. No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction so far.
Kidnapping of locals for extortions are common in Afghanistan. Rampant poverty and rising unemployment has worsened the situation.
In 2016, an Indian aid worker was kidnapped in Kabul. She was released after 40 days.
The Indian government regularly issues a security alert for Indians residing in Afghanistan and travelling to the war-torn country.
KEC is one of the largest Indian companies in Afghanistan that is responsible for electricity supply in the country, the report said.
PNN
