Two Germans 'missing in Afghanistan'

Two German men who set off to climb snow-capped mountains in war-torn Afghanistan have been missing for several days, Afghan officials said on Tuesday. "We are aware that two Germans have gone missing somewhere between Baghlan and Parwan provinces (north of the capital Kabul). We are investigating the incident," said interior ministry spokesman Siddiq Siddiqui. The German embassy in Kabul was not immediately contactable, but the information was corroborated by the chief of Parwan police, who said the pair were both men. "According to our reports, the two German nationals went missing in the mountains of north Salang area on Friday," Sher Ahmad Maladani told AFP. "They had not informed police about their destination, they had left their driver and had climbed the mountains. "Late in the Friday, the driver informed us that the Germans had not returned from the mountains." Siddiqui, however, said the pair went missing two days ago. Maladani said insurgents were not active in the area.