7 Indian engineers kidnapped in Afghanistan’s Baghlan, say reports
Kabul: Seven Indian engineers working in Afghanistan have been abducted, the local media reported on Sunday. The government is trying to confirm the reports, sources said. The engineers were working on a power plant in Baghlan province, located in north Afghanistan, reported news agency Reuters.
They, along with their Afghan driver, were abducted by unknown gunmen while travelling to a government-run power station on Sunday, Reuters quoted a police spokesman as saying. It is not known who is responsible for the kidnapping or whether a ransom has been sought, Reuters reported.
The Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed the kidnapping of the seven Indian engineers. “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,” a spokesperson of the foreign ministry said.
Many of the earlier abductions in the war-torn country have been linked to Taliban, but the group is yet to take responsibility.
In 2016, an Indian aid worker was kidnapped in Kabul. She was released after 40 days.
India has been involved for long in trying to help with the economic development in the war-raved nation. Since 2001, the government has pledged at least US $2 billion towards that effort since 2001.
