Afghanistan has concrete leads on Indian aid worker, claims MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said that Afghanistan has concrete leads now on Indian aid worker who was abducted in Herat.

While addressing a news conference in New Delhi, MEA Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said the Afghan authorities have been taking the case very seriously.

While addressing a news conference in New Delhi, MEA Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said the Afghan authorities have been taking the case very seriously even beyond their expectations.

"Our understanding is that the Afghan authorities have been able to come across certain concrete leads. They have shared these leads with us and are now working on them. At this stage, this is a work in progress and they have kept us informed and they have also explained to us how much effort is going into trying to resolve this matter or to pursue this case," said Akbaruddin.

But the top diplomat refused to comment on the question when he was asked if there were any updates that the abducted worker was alive or dead.

The Indian national was working with a non-governmental organization (NGO) in the education sector and the Consulate in Herat was in constant touch with the Afghanistan government.

The Herat mission was considered one of India's safest in Afghanistan compared with Jalalabad in the east, which was attacked last year, and Kandahar in the south.

The kidnapping came after suicide bombers attacked the Indian Consulate in Herat on May 23.