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Pakistan Nuclear Officials Kidnapped, Ambassador to Afghanistan Missing


Police officials in Pakistan say two nuclear energy officials have been kidnapped in the northwest near the border with Afghanistan.

Authorities say the two technicians were on a routine visit conducting a geological survey in the northwestern district of Dira Isamil Khan Monday, when they were abducted at gunpoint along with their driver.

Police say it is not clear whether the kidnappers were militants or members of a criminal gang.

Pakistani security forces continue to search for the country's ambassador to Afghanistan, Tariq Azizuddin. The envoy disappeared Monday while driving through Pakistan's Khyber tribal district on his way to the Afghan capital, Kabul.

Azizuddin vanished in an area where several Pakistani Red Cross employees disappeared earlier this month. Authorities have closed the main road through the area, which has seen fighting between Islamic militants and Pakistani security forces.

Officials have said they fear the envoy has been kidnapped. Afghan President Hamid Karzai said that he hopes Azizuddin is safe and will be released soon.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

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