Seven Indian Engineers, Afghan Driver Kidnapped In Afghanistan's Baghlan Province

Seven Indian engineers and an Afghan national have been kidnapped in Afghanistan's northern Baghlan Province, officials said on May 6.

Zabihullah Shuja, a spokesman for the Baghlan police, said the engineers were traveling to a government-run power station in a minibus when unknown gunmen abducted them and their Afghan driver.

The engineers worked for the Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) that operates power-generating stations.

Baghlan’s Governor Abdul Hai Niamati told RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan that efforts are underway to release them.

However, Baghlan governor Abdulhai Nemati confirmed to Tolo News that Taliban group abducted seven employees of KEC and moved them to the Dand-e-Shahabuddin area of Pol-e-Khumri city.



Nemati said they spoke with the Taliban group via local people and Taliban said they abducted staff members in error, believing they were government employees.

The governor said they are trying to get the abductees freed through tribe elders and arbitrators.

Tolo News said six Indian staff members and one Afghan employee of the company were abducted in Bagh-e-Shamal village, of the Pol-e-Khumri city capital of Baghlan province. This, while traveling to the region, where KEC owns an electricity sub-station contract.

According to The Hindu, a senior Indian embassy official said over 150 Indian engineers and technical experts are currently working across Afghanistan on large infrastructure projects.

In 2016, an Indian aid worker was kidnapped in Kabul. She was released after 40 days.