Two Czech women kidnapped in southwestern Pakistan

Two female tourists from the Czech Republic have been kidnapped in Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan, a local government official says.

The incident occurred on Wednesday when unknown gunmen stopped a bus and abducted the women in the Nok Kundi area of Chaghi district, some 550 kilometers (350 miles) west of the provincial capital Quetta.

“Both the women were from Czech Republic and entered in Pakistan as tourists,” said provincial Home Secretary Akbar Hussain Durrani.

He added that the armed men also had taken captive a tribal policeman who was guarding the bus but later released him.

No group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.

Southwestern and northwestern parts of Pakistan have been hit by violence in recent years.