Eight govt officials kidnapped in Pakistan

KARACHI: Eight government officials, including five women, were kidnapped by suspected Islamic militants in Pakistan's Taliban-infested area of North Waziristan.

The eight were kidnapped after their vehicle was ambushed on Friday evening in the North Waziristan area bordering Afganistan, Arif Khan, a government official said.

They were travelling from Peshawar to North Waziristan to conduct a survey on the schools and other educational projects in the restive tribal belt.

"We only know that eight people have been kidnapped but by whom we don't know," he said.

The kidnapped officials included five women.

North Waziristan has been a hub of foreign militants who fled Afghanistan after the US and allied forces routed the Taliban regime in 2001.

Arif Khan said efforts were being made to rescue the abducted officials with the help of tribal elders.

Islamic militants have been waging a war against women education in the tribal region and also against music shops.

The government reached a peace deal with tribal elders in the North Waziristan area in 2006 in order to restore their writ in the area and stop the activities of foreign militants linked to Al-Qaeda.