Four officers disappeared after arresting suspected illegal immigrants near the Pakistan-Iran border.
Armed assailants kidnapped four police officers in the coastal city of Gwadar, located near the maritime border between Pakistan and Iran, police confirmed Thursday.
The abductees have been identified as Niaz Ahmed, Shoaib, Ehsan and Sajid Ali. According to initial reports, officers had intercepted a vehicle carrying Afghan nationals attempting to enter Pakistan illegally the previous day. The suspects were traveling in a Zambad (a type of vehicle commonly used for smuggling).
Police officials said that the officers on duty immediately informed Kantani post in-charge ASI Musaddaq Ali about the situation. The ASI ordered them to transport the detainees to the police station. However, shortly afterward all communication with the four police officers was lost.
Authorities believe the officers were taken hostage by armed men. Security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to recover the missing personnel. So far no group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. More research is being done.
