Two employees of the Pakistani Atomic Energy Commission on a mission to map mineral deposits in Pakistan’s north western region were reportedly abducted by unidentified gunmen. Efforts to trace the nuclear technicians have not bore any results. Local officials have also stated that the identity or affiliation of the kidnappers was not known1.

In other developments, Pakistan launched a short-range nuclear capable ballistic missile on February 13, 2008. A statement released by the Pakistani army noted that personnel from Pakistan’s strategic force command carried out a ‘successful’ launch of the Hatf III (Ghaznavi) missile, which has a range of 290 kilometres2.

• 1. “Pakistan nuclear staff go missing,” BBC, February 12, 2008, at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/south_asia/7240414.stm
• 2. “Pakistan tests nuclear-capable missile: Army,” AFP, February 13, 2008, at http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5g4lbOqoHEh7gsMQKd8-khWrBkQUA