Abducted Iranian engineers freed in Afghanistan

[News_Editor]

Abducted Iranian engineers freed in Afghanistan

2011-04-21 02:08:04 GMT+7 (ICT)

TEHRAN, IRAN (BNO NEWS) -- Iran's Foreign Minsitry on Wednesday announced that the eleven remaining engineers who were abducted in Afghanistan were freed, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.

"Following intensive efforts of Foreign Ministry and our Embassy in Kabul, the Iranian nationals kidnapped in Farah province were eventually freed and transferred to a safe place," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said.

On Sunday, 12 Iranian nationals were abducted by unknown gunmen in southwest Afghanistan. The engineers were working on a road construction project in Farah province.

One of the twelve abductees was freed on Tuesday and thanks to wide-scale diplomatic efforts the others were released this day. The engineers were in good health and will be sent home as soon as possible.

"After the news about the abduction of these individuals, we pursued the case through Kabul's embassy in Tehran as well as Iran's embassy in Kabul. We made several contacts with the Afghan political officials and military forces," added Mehmanparast.

No group has claimed responsibility of the kidnapping which also included five Afghan workers. In the past, Taliban militants have abducted aid workers and government service members in the war-torn country.

Farah province is located in Afghanistan's western region, close to the border with Iran. Mehmanparast reminded the Afghan government of its grave responsibility for protecting its borders.

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