Pakistani Ambassador to Afghanistan Tariq Azizuddin is seen in this file photo handed out by the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, Feb. 12, 2008. Azizuddin went missing as he was traveling by road through a volatile region plagued by militants in the bordering area between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Sadiq said.  (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    ISLAMABAD, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's ambassador to Afghanistan Tariq Azizuddin has gone missing for 13 days but the government believes the missing diplomat is safe and alive, foreign office spokesman said Saturday.

    Tariq Azizuddin went missing on Feb. 11 in Khyber tribal agency, one of seven semi-autonomous tribal regions along the Afghan border.

    Tariq Azizuddin was traveling to Kabul from Peshawar, capital of North West Frontier Province, by road in his car with a driver and body guard when the local administration lost contact with them.

    Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq said security forces were actively searching the missing official in the area. Expressing his confidence that the ambassador was safe and alive, Sadiq said all measures would be taken to trace him.

    Last week local media reported that local Taliban had claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and said Tariq would be released in exchange for the release of their detained leader Mulla Mansoor Dadullah.

    However, the government rejected any such claim and made it clear that no body had contacted them on the abduction nor made any demand.

Pakistani ambassador to Afghanistan missing in tribal areas

    ISLAMABAD, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani ambassador to Afghanistan Tariq Azizuddin went missing in the tribal region while on way to Afghanistan on Monday, Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Sadiq said.  Full story