Two German hikers found dead in northern Afghanistan

2011-09-05 20:31:59 GMT+7 (ICT)

CHARIKAR, AFGHANISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- Two German citizens who had been reported missing last month when they went hiking in the Afghan province of Parwan have been found dead, officials said on Monday.

The bodies of the dead Germans were found in the southern part of the Salang Pass, which is a large mountain pass which connects northern Afghanistan and Kabul, the nation's capital, provincial police chief Brigadier General Sher Ahmad Maldani told Pajhwok Afghan News.

According to the media outlet, the two German nationals, who had disappeared on August 19 in the Salang district, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of Kabul, were kidnapped by a group of unidentified men, and locals near the mountains of the Gararai Qaichi area of Salang district later discovered the bodies.

Genereal Rajab, head of the Salang Pass Tunnel Maintenance Department, said the bodies were put in bags. A team has been deployed to the area to transport the bodies to Kabul.

Some reports indicated that the two bodies were found with bullet wounds, while other local media said the two Germans, who are to said to have been working with an aid group, were killed by Koches nomads.

It is unknown who killed the German citizens as no group has claimed responsibility.

Parwan, which borders Kabul province, was relatively peaceful until early August, 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.

But 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 2011-09-05

, holiday in AK47 land.

R.I.P. guys. Hope others stay at home.