Kidnapped engineers of Iran and Afghanistan freed

Twelve Iranian and Afghan engineers kidnapped while working in a remote area of western Afghanistan have been released, said police.

On Monday when they were employed in Farah province on a road-building project they were taken by gunmen.

According to police the engineers were able to secure their release with the help of local tribal elders who acted as mediators with Taliban insurgents. Three of them were freed on Tuesday and the rest on Wednesday, said police.

It is said that insurgents often target government projects such as roads because they are seen to be symbols of the central government which they reject. The Taliban have said those who work on such projects are collaborators, not civilians.

Farah province borders Iran and therefore significant for Taliban activities.