One Indian among three abducted and killed in Kabul

New Delhi/Kabul: An Indian national working for an international food services company in Afghanistan was among three foreigners killed by unidentified gunmen after they were abducted from the Afghan capital Kabul, the latest incident of foreigners being targeted in the war-torn country. In a strong reaction, India confirmed the deaths and said it condemned the incident in the strongest terms. The three men — one Indian, a Malaysian and a Macedonian — were working as chefs for the French food services and facilities management giant Sodexo, news agencies also said, relying on Afghan media reports that cited a senior diplomat in Kabul. According to reports, the identities of the victims have not been disclosed.

The three persons were abducted early this morning and their bodies were later found in Mussahi, a volatile area of the Afghan capital, reports said, adding that the armed men took the foreigners out of their vehicle at around 8.30 am (local time) and abducted them in a Toyota Corolla at the industrial park area of 9th Police District in Kabul city.

The driver of the foreign nationals after 20 minutes reached the  office and informed the staff about the abduction, the Afghan media report said. The police launched a search operation and cordoned off the area. After around two hours, the bodies were recovered. The Afghan police is investigating it as terror incident. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the killings.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “It is a matter of deep anguish that an Indian national, working for an international company, was kidnapped along with two of his colleagues from Malaysia and Macedonia  in Kabul today. The local authorities later informed that the three kidnapped, including the Indian national have been killed by the kidnappers. The government condemns this incident in the strongest terms. The Indian Embassy in Kabul is in touch with the Afghan authorities and the company concerned in the matter. The Embassy is  rendering all assistance in the repatriation of the mortal remains.”

According to reports, the Taliban terror group often claim responsibility behind the abduction although some of the kidnappings are done for ransom by criminal gangs. This is the latest incident targeting foreigners in the war-torn capital.

The incident comes a few months after seven Indian engineers of a company working in Afghanistan’s northern Baghlan province were abducted reportedly by Taliban gunmen who apparently mistook them for government employees.