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Afghan minister kidnapped in Kabul Afghan minister kidnapped in Kabul
(about 1 hour later)
Gunmen have abducted the Afghan deputy public works minister in Kabul, officials say.Gunmen have abducted the Afghan deputy public works minister in Kabul, officials say.
Ahmad Shah Wahid was on his way to work on Tuesday when five gunmen ran his car off the road in northern Kabul, dragged him into their four-wheel-drive vehicle and sped away, said Gul Agha Hashim, the city's police chief of investigations.Ahmad Shah Wahid was on his way to work on Tuesday when five gunmen ran his car off the road in northern Kabul, dragged him into their four-wheel-drive vehicle and sped away, said Gul Agha Hashim, the city's police chief of investigations.
The armed men shot and wounded Wahid's driver when he tried to drive away to safety, said the public works ministry spokesman Soheil Kakar. The armed men shot and wounded Wahid's driver when he tried to drive away to safety, said Soheil Kakar, a spokesman for the public works ministry.
It was not immediately clear who was behind the abduction. Kakar said there had so far been no ransom demand.It was not immediately clear who was behind the abduction. Kakar said there had so far been no ransom demand.
Wahid, who is in his mid-50s, studied engineering and road construction in Italy and has been deputy minister for four years. Before that, he worked in the ministry overseeing road reconstruction, Kakar said.Wahid, who is in his mid-50s, studied engineering and road construction in Italy and has been deputy minister for four years. Before that, he worked in the ministry overseeing road reconstruction, Kakar said.
"He is a very professional man and had no disputes with anyone," Kakar added."He is a very professional man and had no disputes with anyone," Kakar added.
Kidnappings for ransom and abductions by Taliban insurgents are relatively common in Afghanistan, but Wahid is the highest-ranking government official abducted in years.Kidnappings for ransom and abductions by Taliban insurgents are relatively common in Afghanistan, but Wahid is the highest-ranking government official abducted in years.
A Taliban spokesman said by telephone that he was not aware of Tuesday's abduction but would check to see if the insurgents were involved.A Taliban spokesman said by telephone that he was not aware of Tuesday's abduction but would check to see if the insurgents were involved.
Criminal gangs also target wealthy Afghans in the capital to collect ransoms, though it is impossible to know how common abductions are because most go unreported to police.Criminal gangs also target wealthy Afghans in the capital to collect ransoms, though it is impossible to know how common abductions are because most go unreported to police.
"Last year, there were more and more kidnappings in Kabul," said Shoib Nawabi, a businessman who was abducted in 2008 and held for nine days before his family paid a ransom."Last year, there were more and more kidnappings in Kabul," said Shoib Nawabi, a businessman who was abducted in 2008 and held for nine days before his family paid a ransom.
Most foreign troops are preparing to withdraw from the country at the end of the year. Nato troops have trained up a 340,000-strong national police and army force in Afghanistan to fight against the Taliban and secure the country, but day-to-day security remains a struggle. Most foreign troops are preparing to withdraw from the country at the end of the year. Nato troops have trained a 340,000-strong national police and army force in Afghanistan to fight against the Taliban and secure the country, but day-to-day security remains a struggle.