By KUNA
Kabul : Except that her name has now officially been confirmed as Cindy Mizzel, there is no word from the Afghan government, the US embassy, the Taliban militants, or any other criminal gang about the American aid worker kidnapped in southern Afghanistan four days ago.
Wearing a burqa, an all-encompassing garment used by Afghan women to cover their faces and body, the American aid worker was snatched with her driver from a road in the city of Kandahar, the former stronghold of the Taliban, on Saturday.
In telephone calls to media offices in Kabul, Taliban spokesman Zabeehullah Mujahid distanced his group from the kidnapping.
Afghan officials initially believed the militants might be involved. However, police later focused investigations on criminal gangs involved in dacoities and kidnappings for ransom, especially of foreigners.
Spokesman for the Interior Ministry Zmaray Bashari said a search operation was underway in Kandahar to find clues to the abductees. However, he said police and other security agencies are still to find any lead.
According to officials in Kandahar, the American woman was living in the city for years. A senior official, when asked about her whereabouts, said foreigners had been asked several times not to venture far from their residence without informing the government.
Police chief of the province, Sayed Aqa Saqib, said all the exit and entry points to the city of Kandahar had been manned by police who are checking vehicles to prevent the abductors from taking the woman out of the city.