US security contractor kidnapped in Afghanistan

A US security contractor has been kidnapped in Afghanistan's eastern Khost province amid a record surge in violent attacks across the war-ravaged Asian country.

An Afghan security official with knowledge of the incident told media outlets on Thursday that the former US Navy member had been working as a contractor when he was abducted last week in the troubled province near the Pakistani border.

The US State Department said it was aware of reports of the kidnapping.

Amrullah Saleh, former spy chief of Afghanistan, was quick to blame the militants, saying on Twitter the abduction had been orchestrated by "the Taliban & their Pakistani backers.  Kidnapping must end & end without ransom".

The kidnapping of Afghans and foreigners for ransom is common across Afghanistan where swathes of the country are infested with criminal gangs or militant groups.

SS