Even as security officials in Afghanistan work with local tribal elders to trace seven Indian engineers abducted by the Taliban in the restive northern Baghlan province, speculations are underway in New Delhi on whether Pakistan’s notorious Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) could have also played a behind-the scene role in the kidnapping.

The Taliban, it is presumed, might now be under pressure from the ISI to keep the Indian engineers in its custody in a bid to force out Indian power companies from northern Afghanistan.

Islamabad has vehemently opposed to India’s growing role in the reconstruction activities under way in Afghanistan. The Pakistani establishment has from time to time targeted Indian workers and assets in the war-torn country.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani spoke to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and assured her that security forces were making every effort to secure the safe release of the abducted Indians.

The seven Indians, according to sources, were travelling without an armed escort at the time of their kidnapping. This was because of the assurances given by local contractors as well as the Taliban that they would not be harmed. The men had been working on a World Bank-funded project that links power suppliers in Central Asia to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

A police spokesman was quoted as saying in Kabul that the Indian engineers were abducted by the militants from the vicinity of Cheshma-e-Sher area on Sunday, while they were travelling to inspect the work progress. The Afghan driver of the engineers is also missing.

The security officials in the province said efforts are underway by the Afghan forces and the government officials as well as the local tribal elders for the release of the Indian engineers.

Apart from security forces and government officials, local tribal elders have also stepped up efforts for the release of the Indian nationals.

Baghlan Governor had on Sunday said the terror group had abducted the Indian engineers and their driver, believing they were government employees. No group has, however, claimed responsibility for the abduction. The External Affairs Ministry had said in New Delhi it is in touch with authorities in Afghanistan.