India is in touch with the government of Democratic Republic of Congo to secure the safe release of an Indian pilot who was kidnapped by Congolese rebels recently.
According to an official release, Syed Mazher, an Indian national working as a pilot with a private airlines in Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC), was taken hostage on July 24 this year by rebels at Kitambe, about 25km north of Walikale in North Kivu province of the African country.
"Our Mission in Kinshasa is in continuous contact with the concerned DRC authorities to secure the safe release of Syed Mazher. The DRC authorities have assured us that they are taking necessary steps for this purpose," it said.
"We will pursue with our efforts for the safe return of Mazher," it added.
According to reports, Congolese rebels took Mazher hostage when they attacked an aircraft at a remote airstrip in a tin mining area of Walikale.