Provincial leaders in Kandahar suspected Taliban militants abducted the woman and her driver Saturday, though the group made no claims of responsibility, the Kuwait News Agency, KUNA, reported.

Police Chief Sayed Aqa Saqib said security officials were monitoring vehicles entering and leaving the city for clues in the abduction.

Saqib said criminal gangs may be behind the kidnapping as gangs kidnapped two German nationals near Kabul in 2007.