TMCnet News
No progress in Herat abduction caseHERAT, Feb 01, 2009 (Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX) -- The fate of the three workers of a private communication company who were abducted yesterday in western Herat province is still unknown. District chief of Pashtun Zarghoon district Abdul Latif Harooni Sunday told Pajhwok Afghan News the three workers of the Etisalat Private Communication Company were kidnapped along with their vehicles from an area between Guzara and Pashtun Zarghoon districts by the armed men of a prominent anti-government figure Ghulam Yahya Akbari. He said the workers were abducted at a time when they were examining a booster in Gulmir village. Harooni said the workers did not inform the local authorities about their visit to the area. However, Ghulam Yahya Akbari told this agency over phone that they had kidnapped 7 workers and later freed four of them. He said that two engineers and a guard of the company were still in their captivity. About the fate of the remaining three persons, Akbari said their fate would be determined later. The militant group of Akbari is said to be operating independently. Spokesman for the Taliban, Qari Yousuf Ahmadi told this agency that they abducted 8 workers of Etisalat Company from Sezeni area of Pashtun Zarghoon district. Ahmadi added they also seized two vehicles and four machine guns from the company's guards. He said Taliban shura would decide the fate of abducted persons. Akbari also confirmed the release of two afghan workers who were abducted along with an Indian almost three months back on the charges of working for ISAF forces stationed in Herat airbase. He said the Indian national who is a cook is still in his custody ISAF forces in western zone have also confirmed the release of two Afghans. |