Govt. taking efforts to secure release of Indians abducted in Afghanistan: MEA

The Government of India on May 10 said it was in touch with relevant people and authorities in Afghanistan to secure the release of Indians who were abducted in the northern Baghlan Province of the war-torn country on May 6.

“We are in touch with different people who are involved in the exercise through the Afghan government,” spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar said.

He, however, refused to share any specific details, citing sensitivity of the case. “I would not like to get into the details of the people and authorities with whom we are in touch with,” he said at a media briefing.

The Indians were abducted by the Taliban militants from near the Cheshma-e-Sher area in Baghlan on May 6.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj with her Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani on the evening of May 6 to seek all possible help of Kabul in securing the release the Indians. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval too had a telephonic conversation with his Afghan counterpart Hanif Atmar on the issue.

“This is a sensitive matter. The lives of seven Indians are involved and, therefore, I would not like to share much on where we are at this point of time,” said the MEA spokesperson.

Afghan media, quoting Baghlan Governor Abdulhai Nemati, reported that Taliban militants were behind the abduction of the Indians and they were moved to the Dand-e-Shahabuddin area of Pol-e-Khomri city

The Indians with KEC International, an RPG group company, were working on a project for construction of a power sub-station.