Canberra urges Afghanistan to find Australian hostage

The Australian national was kidnapped on Thursday, after a group of armed men wearing military uniforms stormed the DACAAR compound, a charity organization working for women empowerment in the country, and took her with them.

She was associated with the organization for twenty years.

The Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop had yesterday said that although the details of the report are yet to be confirmed but, the government was closely monitoring the situation.

The details of the report have to be confirmed by the Afghan authorities, but they certainly believe that she has been kidnapped. We are trying to confirm all of the details, but we are in communication with her family, Tolo news quoted Bishop as saying.

The Australian government does not as a matter of policy pay ransom to kidnappers, she added.

The Australian foreign minister also called on the Afghan government to accelerate efforts and make sure they secure the safe release of the hostage.

Meanwhile, the hostage's family has appealed for the safe release of her.

While the efforts are on for her rescue, local officials in Nangarhar have said that the Afghan security forces have so far arrested several individuals allegedly involved in the kidnapping.

The kidnapped woman's father Brian Wilson yesterday, appealed for the safe release of his daughter.

Foreign affairs ministry phoned me and told me and said they would keep in touch. They knew no more than I did all the news was that she was kidnapped ... we don't yet know what the demand would be. But I presume you don't harm a hostage, because to did that is not good at all, Wilson said.

Meanwhile, Attaullah Khogyani, spokesman for Nangarhar governor said that several individuals have been so far arrested in connection with the kidnapping and efforts are underway to the arrest the main masterminds.