In yet another case of Indians being targeted in Afghanistan, suspected Taliban militants abducted a 38-year-old cook working for an Italian company. Vasu alias Simon was abducted along with his Afghan interpreter and driver on October 13, official sources said in Delhi. He was working food store 'Fiano', which serves Italian soldiers in Afghanistan. The trio were abducted while delivering food to the International Security Assistance Force camp in Bagram air base.The Indian embassy in Kabul and consulate in Herat are in constant touch with top Afghan authorities who are trying to secure SimonÂ’s release. The embassy is also in touch with his company. The sources said Simon is alive but did not give details fearing it could jeopardise his safety.
Unlike Indians who have gone to Afghanistan through the government, Simon did not have any security. "Since he had gone through a private contract with the Italian firm, his security was the responsibility of the company," the sources said.
The abductors are believed to demanded $50,000 for his release. They allowed him to talk to his brother Subbu who is in Kabul.
Simon is the third Indian to be abducted in Afghanistan in the last three years, after BRO driver M R Kutty and K Suryanarayanan who were killed by their abductors. The Taliban have often attacked BRO personnel engaged in construction of a key highway between Delaram and Zaranj.