Ankara: Three Turks abducted in Afghanistan last month have been released and arrived at the Turkish embassy in Kabul today, the foreign ministry here said.

The three men, kidnapped on October 22,were freed yesterday and handed over to the Afghan authorities, the statement said, adding that they were in good health.

"We are grateful to the Afghan authorities for the help and efficient cooperation they provided in the process," the statement said, without specifying how the release of the captives was secured.

The three men-- two engineers and a worker employed at the construction of a radio mast in Tani district, on the border with Pakistan -- were abducted along with their Afghan driver and translator while they were driving to the town of Khost from the area.

Afghan officials had said at the time that two Turkish engineers were captured, but a Turkish diplomat said Tuesday that that information had been incomplete.

The Afghan driver and translator were also released in good shape, the diplomat told AFP.

The Turks were to be flown home on Friday, the foreign ministry said.

It stressed that attacks on foreign nationals in Afghanistan would not scare off Turkey from helping in the reconstruction of the war-ravaged country.

Security has plummeted in Afghanistan with attacks from Taliban and other insurgents on the rise and criminals kidnapping dozens of Afghans and foreign nationals, most often for ransom.
Source : PTI