A senior Afghan government official was kidnapped along with his driver on his way to work in Kabul on Tuesday.

A senior Afghan government official was kidnapped along with his driver on his way to work in Kabul on Tuesday, according to an Interior Ministry official.

Ahmad Shah Waheed, deputy minister for public works, was taken by gunmen at around 07:00 a.m. local time (02:30 GMT) from the Khairkhana neighborhood of the capital, AFP reported.

Kabul police spokesman Hashmatullah Stanikzai confirmed the incident, adding that Afghan police forces have launched a search to secure his release.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for Taliban militants, said they had no knowledge of Waheed’s kidnapping.