ISLAMABAD, Dec 23: Authorities of the Zabul province in southwest Afghanistan are negotiating with rebels for the release of two Indian engineers kidnapped two weeks ago, a report said on Tuesday.

“We are holding talks with the kidnappers only at Zabul level and are hopeful of a positive outcome (in this connection),” provincial deputy governor Maulvi Mohammad Omer was quoted as saying in a report by the Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press.

“According to our information, the Indians have been kept in Khak-e-Afghan area, (in the) north part of the province,” Omer said.—AFP

Opinion

Editorial

Centre vs provinces
Updated 10 Jun, 2026

Centre vs provinces

The reason the centre finds itself in this position is rooted in its failure to expand the tax net and boost revenues.
Party in crisis
10 Jun, 2026

Party in crisis

THE young KP chief minister must be starting to realise just how thorny a seat he occupies. There has been a flurry...
Varsity woes
10 Jun, 2026

Varsity woes

FINANCIAL crises affecting public sector universities across Pakistan are now having an impact on academic...
Doctor attacked
09 Jun, 2026

Doctor attacked

AN act of reprehensible violence has shaken the medical community. On Saturday, an employee of the Provincial Civil...
AJK flare-up
Updated 09 Jun, 2026

AJK flare-up

The situation started deteriorating after a trader affiliated with the JAAC was reportedly shot in an altercation with law-enforcers.
Fault lines
09 Jun, 2026

Fault lines

THE April 8 ceasefire that halted hostilities between Israel and Iran has encountered its most serious test yet....