Afghanistan: Afghan minister abducted by gunmen in Kabul --- The highest ranking official to be kidnapped in years, Ahmad Shah Wahid's abduction is a reminder of the insecurity still plaguing the country as international forces prepare to leave -- Gunmen abducted the Afghan deputy public works minister in Kabul on Tuesday, officials said, a grim reminder of the insecurity plaguing Afghanistan as most foreign troops prepare to withdraw from the country at the end of the year. -- Ahmad Shah Wahid was on his way to work when five gunmen ran his car off the road in northern Kabul, dragged him into their 4-wheel-drive vehicle and sped away, said Gul Agha Hashim, the city's police chief of investigations. -- The armed men shot and wounded Mr Wahid's driver when he tried to drive away to safety, said Soheil Kakar, the public works ministry spokesman. -- It was not immediately clear who was behind the abduction. Mr Kakar said there has so far been no ransom demand. -- Mr Wahid, who is in his mid-50s, studied engineering and road construction in Italy and has been deputy minister for four years. Before that, he worked in the ministry overseeing road reconstruction, Mr Kakar said. -- "He is a very professional man and had no disputes with anyone," the spokesman added. --- A Taliban spokesman said by telephone that he was not aware of Tuesday's abduction but would check to see if the insurgents were involved. -- Criminal gangs also target wealthy Afghans in the capital to collect ransoms, though it's impossible to know how common abductions are because most go unreported to police.