The Government has intensified efforts to seek the release of seven Indians abducted in Afghanistan.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), both Foreign Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval are in touch with their counterparts in Afghanistan to expedite the release of the Indians.

“We are in touch with different people who are involved in the exercise through the Afghan government,” Raveesh Kumar, MEA spokesperson, said. He, however, refused to share any specific details citing sensitivity of the case.

Seven Indian engineers were abducted in the restive northern Baghlan province of Afghanistan on Sunday. They were abducted by the Taliban militants near the Cheshma-e-Sher area. The Indian engineers of KEC International, an RPG group company, were working on a project for construction of a power sub-station in the country.

Shortly after the news came, Swaraj had a telephonic conversation with her Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani during which she had sought all possible help of Kabul in securing the release the Indians. Doval too had a telephonic conversation with his Afghan counterpart Hanif Atmar on the issue.

“I would not like to get into the details of the people and authorities with whom we are in touch with. 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 Indians and they were moved to the Dand-e-Shahabuddin area of Pul-e-Khumri city. This is not the first case of abduction of Indians. Two years back an Indian id worker Judith D’Souza was abducted in Afghanistan and was later released with the help from Afghanistan government.

Courtesy: The Pioneer, Friday, 11 May 2018 | PNS | NEW DELHI