PESHAWAR: Unidentified gunmen on Thursday kidnapped eight Fata Development Authority (FDA) employees in South Waziritan when they were heading to inspect an under construction dam in the area, security officials said.

The incident took place in Toi Khula area of South Waziristan tribal district along the Afghan border where unidentified gunmen intercepted the vehicle of abducted officials and took them to an unknown location.

Zafrul Islam, the top government official in South Waziristan, said project director of Chao Tangi small dam, two geologists and other technical staff of the dam were among those kidnapped at gunpoint.

“Gunmen kidnapped these eight men when they were heading to the dam site,” Islam told AFP.

Related: 120 sites for small dams identified in Fata

Another senior government official confirmed the abduction and told AFP that a search operation has been launched to locate the abductors.

No group has yet claimed responsibility.

Related: Girls' wing of new government school blown up in South Waziristan

Pakistan army stepped up its offensive in the region after the Taliban's massacre of 153 people, mostly children, at an army-run school in Peshawar in December 2014, and has killed or pushed hundreds of militants to Afghanistan.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.