There is growing concern for the safety of 11 humanitarian workers who have been kidnapped during a mine clearing operation in Afghanistan for Dumfries-based charity the Halo Trust.
The workers were abducted as they were traveling on board four cars.
There has been no reports on the fate of the abductees and their whereabouts.
The Halo Trust is the world’s largest humanitarian mine clearance organisation, first made famous when Princess Diana, who later became a patron, visited one of its projects in Angola.
Established in 1988, the charity has over 6,000 mine clearers in 19 countries and territories.
Afghanistan is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world following four decades of militancy and unrest.
There has been no reports on the fate of the abductees and their whereabouts
Suspected Taliban militants frequently plant mines to target Afghan and foreign forces in various parts of Afghanistan.
De-miners are usually soft targets of abduction for ransom in Afghanistan as they work in far-flung regions.
A spokesman for the Halo Trust said: “We can confirm there was a security incident in Afghanistan.
“We are working with the Afghan authority to secure their safe release.”
The trust began working in the country in 1988 and currently employs 2,400 Afghans.
The problem was particularly acute in Afghanistan where thousands of civilians were being killed or injured by landmines and their presence was preventing the return of tens of thousands of refugees.
