NGO officials rescued after brief abduction

KUNDUZ CITY (PAN): Five workers, including three females, of a non-governmental organisation (NGO) were rescued after a brief abduction involving unknown gunmen in northern Kunduz province, an official said on Saturday.

The Afghan Centre for Socio-Economic and Opinion Research (ACSOR) workers were on their way to Qawi Guzer village on the outskirts of Kunduz City, the provincial capital, when attacked by unknown gunmen, injuring a female worker, Kunduz police spokesman Sarwar Hussain said.

All the NGO workers, local residents, were rescued an hour later they were seized by the gunmen as a result of a security operation, the police official said, adding the injured worker was in stable condition.

The attackers fled the scene without offering any resistance to the Afghan security forces.

Asadullah Salarzai, one of the rescued employees, said they were thankful to the security forces, but complained his car remained with the kidnappers.

He said surveys on security, agriculture, economy and governance had been contracted out to ACSOR in parts of Kunduz.

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