Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Afghanistan

Insurgents Kidnap Three Afghans, Indian National

20 November 2005 -- Suspected neo-Taliban rebels kidnapped an Indian and three Afghans working on a road-construction project in Afghanistan's volatile south.

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November 20, 2005

Indian authorities confirmed today that an Indian national is among several people who have gone missing in Afghanistan.

Afghani officials said today the four were working for an Indian company refurbishing the main road from the southern city of Kandahar to Herat in the west.

Nimroz Province Governor Ghulam Dasthaqir said the Indian and one of the Afghans worked as engineers, while the other two were policemen providing security. The four were reportedly kidnapped after being ambushed as they drove in Nimroz.

The abduction is the latest in a string of kidnappings in southern Afghanistan.

The Afghan Interior Ministry said the four were kidnapped in Nimroz's Poshta-e-Hassan area by unknown men. It said that a search operation and investigations have been launched by police.

A spokesman for India's Foreign Ministry, Navtej Sarna, confirmed that Afghan agencies are investigating the matter.

Sarna said that if the reports are true, New Delhi condemns the incident and urges that all abductees should be released.

(RFE/RL with additional wire reporting)

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