The great game: Indian power firms to wade into Afghan battlefields

Indian companies, KEC International and Kalpataru Power Transmission Limited, are expected to begin work by the year-end on $235 million power line transiting through seven of Afghanistan’s most insurgency-torn districts, a spokesperson for state power monopoly Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) has said.

The announcement comes amid stalled negotiations for the release of seven Indian engineers working for KEC International. The engineers were kidnapped by the Taliban near the town of Pul-e Khomri earlier this month.

Wahidullah Tawhidi, DABS spokesman said plans for the CASA-1000 power project, which will carry power from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to Pakistan, will be complete