Iranian Engineers Abducted in Afghanistan Freed

Twelve Iranian engineers kidnapped by the Taliban in western Afghanistan have been released, Iran's state news agency IRNA reported on Wednesday quoting the foreign ministry.

"Fortunately, due to the efforts of the foreign ministry and our embassy ... Iranian nationals were released and transferred to a safe place," foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast was quoted as saying.

The 12 men, who were working on a road construction project, were snatched at gunpoint on Monday in the Post-i-Road district of Farah province, which borders Iran.

Mehmanparast had said on Monday that the Afghan embassy in Tehran was pressing the "authorities in Kabul to carry out their responsibility with regard to Iranian nationals and take firm and swift action on this abduction."

Farah is a remote province and faces significant Taliban activity.

The abduction was the latest in a series of kidnappings of Afghans and foreigners in Afghanistan since a U.S.-led invasion ousted Taliban in 2001.

Most hostages are released unharmed following negotiations, but last December a Bangladeshi road worker was killed during a kidnapping in northern Afghanistan. Five of his colleagues remain in captivity.

Two French journalists from state-owned channel France 3 remain in captivity after being kidnapped east of Kabul in December 2009 by suspected Islamist insurgents.

There are around 130,000 international troops in Afghanistan fighting the Taliban and other insurgents.