In a case of a possible mistaken identity, Taliban gunmen abducted six Indians employees of a power company in Afghanistan’s northern Baghlan province on Sunday.
Afghan media reports said they apparently mistook them for Government employees. India is in touch with Afghan authorities to find ways to rescue the captives.
The Taliban terrorists abducted the six Indian staff members and one Afghan employee of Indian company KEC early on Sunday morning in Bagh-e-Shamal area of the provincial capital Pul-e-Khomre, TOlOnews reported, citing officials.
The employees were abducted while they were travelling to the area where the company owns an electricity sub-station contract, the report said. Baghlan Governor Abdulhai Nemati said the Taliban group abducted the employees and moved them to the Dand-e-Shahabuddin area of Pul-e-Khumri city, according to the report.
It quoted Nemati as saying that the Afghan authorities spoke with the Taliban via local people and the terror group said it had abducted the staff members in error, believing they were Government employees. No group has, however, claimed responsibility for the abduction so far.
Nemati said they are trying to release the abductees through tribe elders and mediation.
In response to queries on the report of the abduction, 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.”
In the last few years, several Indians were taken captives by Taliban militants, but in most cases they were rescued through negotiations.
KEC, a global infrastructure engineering, procurement and construction major, is one of the largest Indian companies in Afghanistan and responsible for electricity supply in the country.