Two more out of seven abducted Indian nationals return homeland from Afghanistan

Two Indian nationals, who were released from captivity in Afghanistan on July 31, returned to India on Tuesday. The Ministry of External Affairs said that seven Indian nationals were kidnapped in Afghanistan in May 2018 and six Indian nationals have now been released so far from detention.

New Delhi: In a major development two Indian nationals, who were released from captivity in Afghanistan on 31 July 2020, returned to India on Tuesday.

Seven Indian nationals were abducted in Afghanistan in May 2018, including the two who returned, the Ministry of External Affairs said. Six Indian nationals have now been released so far from detention.

"We thank the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for their constant and unwavering support in securing the release of the Indians", the MEA said in a statement.

Four of the seven abducted individuals had returned to India earlier - One returned in March 2019, while the other three in October 2019, in exchange of 11 prisoners of the militant outfit. According to reports, seven Indians, working for a company in Afghanistan as engineers were kidnapped by the Taliban from Baghlan province. The company, Maharashtra-based KEC International Limited, has been working on the development of electricity infrastructure in that country.

According to reports, the Taliban had never formally claimed responsibility for the abduction of the group of engineers. It was only after their release that it was confirmed that the Taliban was behind their abductions. Some of the Taliban members released from US-controlled prisons in Afghanistan included Sheikh Abdul Rahim, Maulvi Rashid, Aziz ur Rahman to name a few.