The pair were kidnapped in the area of Sanatorium in western Kabul.
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The American University of Afghanistan has temporarily suspended campus operations after two of its teachers were kidnapped at gunpoint Sunday, according to a statement released by the school. No militant group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, police said. Sediqqi said an investigation was underway.
“[There is] very high concern here about the security situation, and not just for foreigners …”
“Hundreds of thousands of people were employed, directly or indirectly, that’s not there on the same scale as in the past and that has affected the economy” and led to an increase in urban crime, he said.
A spokesperson at the Australian Embassy in Afghanistan has confirmed “the apparent kidnapping of an Australian in Kabul”.
The U.S. Embassy in Kabul confirmed that an American was abducted but did not release any further details.
“We continue to advise Australians not to travel to Afghanistan because of the extremely unsafe security situation, including the serious threat of kidnapping”, it said.
Kidnappings of foreigners have become more common in Afghanistan in recent years.
The kidnapping comes after a group of six tourists were injured in a rocket attack in western Afghanistan on Thursday. They were safely evacuated to Kabul and were flown out of the country.
At least two other foreigners, from Germany and the Netherlands, were taken from the same neighbourhood in separate incidents a year ago.
Wilson, said to be aged 60, ran an organisation known as Zardozi, which promotes the work of Afghan artisans, particularly women.
“We continue to advise Australians not to travel to Afghanistan because of the extremely risky security situation, including the serious threat of kidnapping”, the spokesperson said.
A German and a Dutchwoman were taken from the same area a year ago.
The two foreigners have been identified by CNN as lecturers at the American University of Afghanistan. A Taliban spokesman said they were targeted as “foreign occupiers”.
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This appeared to be the first reported abduction related to a private university in Afghanistan.
