Two German hikers go missing in northern Afghanistan

[News_Editor]

Two German hikers go missing in northern Afghanistan

2011-08-24 10:00:19 GMT+7 (ICT)

CHARIKAR, AFGHANISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- Two German citizens have been missing since Friday when they went hiking in the Afghan province of Parwan, officials said on Tuesday.

The two mountain climbers disappeared in the Salang district, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of Kabul, Brigadier General Sher Ahmad Maldani, the provincial police chief, told Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN).

"They told their driver they would return at four in the evening on Friday but they did not come back. So the driver came to us," Maladani said. According to the police chief, a search operation, involving helicopters, is underway but there has been no clue of the climbers so far. "We are still searching, hoping to find them," he added.

Meanwhile, the Taliban has denied responsibility for the disappearances. "We don't have any report of kidnapping Germans. We are looking into it," Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said by telephone as quoted by the German Press Agency DPA.

The Afghan Interior Ministry spokesperson confirmed this allegation saying they did not have any information regarding the missing hikers and did not know if they had been kidnapped. "No one has taken responsibility so far," he said.

However, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said that he could not rule out the possibility that the hikers were victims of an abduction crime. He added that Berlin is in touch with Afghan authorities to investigate the disappearances, DPA reported.

Parwan, which borders Kabul province, was relatively peaceful until two weeks ago, when a group of suicide bombers attacked the provincial governor's office, killing at least 19 people and injuring dozens.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack through its spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, although the Taliban is known to issue claims of responsibility for attacks even when they were carried out by other militant groups.

Criminal gangs not associated with the Taliban insurgents have been known to also kidnap foreign tourists, but not since a spate of incidents between 2007 and 2009. Two German engineers were kidnapped in July 2007, one of whom was killed by his captors while the other was freed after 85 days.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-08-24

[doggie888888]

Were their names: Dumm und Dümmer?

[Steely Dan]

Can't they think of something less dangerous to do such as base jumping?

[transam]

Were their names: Dumm und Dümmer?

Von Dumm und Von Dummer.

Really beggars belief that with all the hiking venues in the world they choose AK47LAND.

Or is there more to it.

[Orac]

We have these two and then the two locked up in Iran for extreme hiking. Maybe I am missing something and should be setting up a travel company offering unescorted hiking tours of Cambodian minefields.

[Scott]

There is also Southern Thailand and Mindano in the Philippines.

[softgeorge]

Hicking and holidaying in Afganistan at this time, seems like a very logical thing to do. It is not actually the peak season.

[transam]

Hicking and holidaying in Afganistan at this time, seems like a very logical thing to do. It is not actually the peak season.

Your right, ammunition is more expensive at this time of year.

[ableguy]

Brain dead morons trusting no expense will be spared to locate the bodies.

[slapout]

Probably have a good shot at mention/listing on the 'Darwin awards'.

[chooka]

Definately not going to help tourism in the country