PM Modi meets Afghan President Ashraf Ghani; asks him to expedite efforts for release of kidnapped Indian woman

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and requested him to expedite efforts to secure the release of an Indian woman kidnapped by suspected militants from Kabul two weeks back.

Modi said he had an opportunity to meet and exchange greetings with Ghani on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tashkent during which he raised the issue of kidnapping of Judith D'Souza, who was working for an international NGO.

"In my discussion with President Ashraf Ghani, raised the issue of the unfortunate kidnapping of Kolkata-based Judith D'Souza in Afghanistan," the Prime Minister tweeted.

"Requested President Ashraf Ghani to expedite efforts to rescue Judith D'Souza and extend all possible support to her family," he said.

40-year-old Judith, working for the Aga Khan Foundation as a senior technical adviser, was scheduled to return home this week but was kidnapped by suspected militants from outside her office in the heart of Kabul on June 9. Judith's family had also written to Modi, urging him to do his "utmost" in securing her release.

In the letter, the family members had said that the "brave, thoughtful, generous and compassionate" Judith had been working in Afghanistan for the well-being of the Afghan people and "as an ambassador of goodwill from India's people, participating in the developmental programmes of that country".

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had said every effort was being made to secure her safe release.