Seven Indian engineers kidnapped in Afghanistan

KABUL/NEW DELHI: Seven Indian engineers and an Afghan national working for a power plant in northern Baghlan province of Afghanistan were kidnapped on 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.

Two officials at the Indian Embassy in Kabul confirmed the kidnapping of the engineers, all working for the Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) that operates power generating stations.

A senior Indian embassy official said over 150 Indian engineers and technical experts are currently working across Afghanistan on large infrastructure projects. "We are working out ways to ensure the release of our engineers," an official said. It is not known who is responsible for the kidnapping or whether a ransom has been sought for their release. Kidnapping of locals for extortions are common in Afghanistan.

The Indian government regularly issues a security alert for Indians residing in Afghanistan and travelling to the war-torn country. Meanwhile, the Indian government is in touch with Afghanistan authorities to ascertain the whereabouts of the Indian nationals abducted in Afghanistan on Sunday, an official 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," an official spokesperson said, responding to reports of the abduction.

According to Afghan police, unknown armed men abducted six foreigners and their Afghan driver in Khawja Alwan area outside Afghanistan's northern Baghlan province's capital city Pul-e-Khumri on Sunday.

"All the abducted foreigners were working for a sub-station of a power supply company in Khawja Alwan area when the incident happened today morning," police spokesman Zabihullah Shija told reporters.

The Afghan side has yet to confirm the nationalities of the abductees, but blamed Taliban militants for the abduction, saying "Taliban commander Mullah Shahen is behind the crime." Taliban militants are yet to make comment.