3 Indians abducted in Mali as Al-Qaeda-linked group unleashes wave of terror attacks

India has expressed deep concern over the abduction of three of its nationals in Mali after armed assailants stormed a cement factory in a coordinated terror strike that coincided with a wave of attacks across the West African nation. The incident, which unfolded on July 1 at the Diamond Cement Factory in Kayes, is part of a broader escalation attributed to Al-Qaeda-linked militants.

In a strongly worded statement issued July 2, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that the three Indians — employees at the cement plant — were taken hostage by unidentified gunmen. The attack took place as part of a multi-pronged assault targeting military and government facilities in western and central Mali.

While no group has yet claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) has taken credit for other coordinated assaults carried out the same day, raising serious concerns over the group's expanding operational reach.

Terming the abductions a “deplorable act of violence,” India has called on the Malian government to ensure the “safe and expeditious release” of the hostages. “The Government of India urges the Republic of Mali to take all necessary measures,” the MEA said, adding that the Indian Embassy in Bamako is in constant contact with Malian officials, local law enforcement, and the cement factory management.

The MEA also confirmed it is in touch with the families of the abducted individuals and has issued a safety advisory urging Indian nationals in Mali to remain alert and exercise extreme caution amid the deteriorating security environment.

The incident marks a dangerous escalation in militant violence in Mali, which has struggled with instability, Islamist insurgency, and fragile governance in recent years. The kidnapping of foreign nationals by jihadist factions is part of a growing tactic to pressure governments and draw international attention to their cause.