New Delhi:
Seven Indian engineers were abducted by unidentified armed men in Afghanistan's Baghlan province on Sunday, local media reports said.
The Indian nationals were travelling to a government-run power station in a minibus, when unknown armed men abducted them and their bus driver - a local resident of Afghanistan.
The incident took place in Bagh-e-Shamal village of the provincial capital Pul-e-Khomre. They were all working in an Indian infrastructure company named KEC, which owned an electricity sub-station contract in the area.
So far, no group has claimed the responsibility for the abduction. However, Baghlan provincial council has suspected Taliban's involvement.
The External Affairs Ministry confirmed the abduction and said that it was in contact with local authorities and efforts to find out the Indians were on.
"We are aware of the abduction of Indian nationals from Baghlan province in Afghanistan.We are in contact with the Afghan authorities and further details are being ascertained," MEA said in a statement.
This is not the first time that an Indian citizen has been abducted in Afghanistan. Earlier in 2016, an Indian nurse was kidnapped in Kabul, and was released after 40 days.
