At least seven Indian engineers abducted in Afghanistan by Taliban: Indian authorities monitoring situation

Kabul, May 7: Sunday has brought the horrifying news from Afghanistan which has not only shocked to the Indians living in Kabul but also to India. Notably, at least seven Indian engineers of an RPG group company working in Afghanistan's northern Baghlan province were abducted by the unknown gunmen. 

Immediately after the shocking incident of kidnapping of seven Indians came to light, the External Affairs Ministry led by Minister Sushma Swaraj contacted Afghanistan government and are in constant touch to track the developments.

In response to queries, the External Affairs Ministry spokesperson 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."

All the seven Indian engineers of an RPG group company working in Afghanistan's northern Baghlan province were abducted with the Afghan driver while they were traveling to the area where KEC has a contract to operate an electricity sub-station. However, the Afghan media reported that Taliban gunmen apparently mistook Indian nationals believing they are government employees.

Baghlan Governor Abdulhai Nemati said the Taliban group took the engineers hostage and moved them to the Dand-e-Shahabuddin area of Pul-e-Khumri city. Nemati also added that the Afghan authorities spoke with the Taliban via local people and the terror group said it had abducted them, believing they were government employees. No group has, however, claimed responsibility for the abduction. Nemati, in the end, said that they are trying to get the abductees released through mediation.

Harsh Goenka, the chairman of the RPG Enterprises, the parent company of KEC, said he has requested External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to help rescue its employees. "Request @SushmaSwaraj and Ministry of External Affairs to help rescue 7 of our managers from the kidnapping in Afghanistan.#KEC," Goenka tweeted.

The incident comes two weeks after 63 innocent civilians were killed while a hundred others were wounded after the multiple bombings took place at voter registration centres in the Afghan capital, Kabul, and in Baghlan province.