Afghanistan: Unknown gunmen kidnap 7 Indian engineers
Unknown gunmen abducted seven Indian engineers, and an Afghan driver, from Afghanistan's Baghlan province on Sunday. The engineers- all employees of Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), were travelling to a government-run power plant in a minibus when they were being attacked. Though no group has claimed responsibility for the act, reports suggest Taliban may be behind the abduction.
Two officials of the Indian Embassy in Kabul confirmed the news, Reuters reported. "We are working out ways to ensure the release of our engineers," an official was quoted. Kidnapping for ransoms has become quite normal in Afghanistan. The tremendous rise in poverty and unemployment has driven many locals to engage in extortion and related activities.
As many as 150 Indian engineers and technical experts are employed across Afghanistan. They work on large infrastructure projects. The Indian government keeps issuing security alerts to citizens travelling to war-torn countries.
