American Refugee Committee Aid Workers Kidnapped By Gunmen In Pakistan

Gunmen have kidnapped eight Pakistani aid workers of the U.S.-based American Refugee Committee, according to the Associated Press.

The workers went missing after handing out relief items near the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan, Reuters reports.

"They distributed some relief goods among the refugees and were probably kidnapped on their way back to Quetta," Pishin's deputy commissioner Mansoor Kakar told Reuters, referring to the provincial capital. Pishin is about 50 km (31 miles) from Quetta. "Efforts are underway to recover them."

The workers were identified as Izzatullah, Mujibur Rahman, Muhammad Imran, Muhammad Saeed, Nasrullah, Sabir, Naseebullah and driver Muhammad Khalil, according to The Nation, an English newspaper in Pakistan.

Local officials were not informed until six hours later, leading some to believe that the kidnappers would have already reached the border areas, according to The Nation. Government officials also say the workers were likely kidnapped for ransom.

Earlier this month, a Swiss man and woman were kidnapped. They have not been found, according to the Associated Press.