India among 3 foreigners abducted and killed in Kabul

An Indian, Malaysian and a Macedonian citizen were abducted and killed by militants in Kabul.

An Indian national and two other workers of an international food services company were abducted and killed in Kabul on Thursday in the latest attack targeting foreigners in the war-torn country, officials said.

DGCA did not elaborate on the observations or the concerns flagged by the US regulator, but said the FAA team will come for a final consultation within 65 days wherein the DGCA shall present the action taken on the observations.(Vipin Kumar/HT PHOTO)

The bodies of the three people, who worked with the French company Sodexo, were found in the volatile Mussahi district close to Kabul after their abduction early on Thursday.

“The three were abducted near Pul-e-Charkhi Kabul early morning, but hours later their bodies with bullet injuries were found in a car parked in the Mussahi district, some 25km south,” the official 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,” ministry of external affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said. The name of the Indian national wasn’t immediately available as the family of the deceased was yet to be informed.

It is not known who’s behind the Kabul abductions and killing and no militant group immediately claimed responsibility for the assault.

“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,” Kumar said. “The embassy is rendering all assistance in the repatriation of the mortal remains.”

“The three men were shot dead and their bodies were found inside a car,” said Nusrat Rahimi, deputy spokesperson for the Afghan interior ministry. “We are in touch with the Afghanistan authorities for the necessary follow up actions and the family is being informed,” said an Indian official requesting anonymity.

The attack came on a day the Taliban attacked a security outpost on Wednesday night, killing three local policemen and wounding four others. At least 10 Taliban fighters were also killed in the gunbattle that broke out.

(With inputs from agencies)