Militants abducted and killed three foreign nationals working for international food company Sodexo in Kabul on Thursday, 2 August deepening concerns about security of expatriates in Afghanistan.
A senior diplomat and two Afghan security officials said the three worked as cooks at Sodexo, the world's second-largest food and catering services company.
An Indian, a Malaysian and a Macedonian citizen were abducted and killed. We have found their bodiesHashmat Stanekzai, spokesman for Kabul’s police chief, told Reuters.
Kidnapping has been a major problem in Afghanistan in recent years. While it mainly affects Afghans abducted for ransom, foreigners have also been targeted, either by criminals looking for ransom or by militant groups.
The Malaysian national was 64, the Indian was 39 and the Macedonian was 37. They were all travelling for work with a local driver.
An Afghan security official said they found identity cards next to the bodies and officials at Sodexo in Afghanistan have confirmed their identities. The company had no immediate comment.
Police said the three men were abducted near Pul-e-Charkhi on the eastern outskirts of Kabul but their bodies were found in a car parked in the Mussahi district in the southern part of Kabul province.
"They were shot dead and their bodies were found inside a car," said Nusrat Rahimi, deputy spokesman for the interior ministry.
Sodexo manages canteens and facilities for offices, the military, schools, hospitals and prisons, and also supplies vouchers for meals and gifts. Its clients range from the Royal Ascot Racecourse in England to the US Marine Corps.
Looking into Repatriation of Mortal Remains: MEA
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement that it was deeply saddened by the news and condemned the incident.
“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 today. Local authorities later informed that the three have been killed by the kidnappers,” the statement said, as quoted by ANI.
“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. The Embassy is rendering all assistance in the repatriation of the mortal remains,” it further said.
(With further updates from ANI)
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