Islamabad: Suspected Islamic militants today (Oct 9, 2004) kidnapped two Chinese engineers and their two Pakistani guards in Pakistan's troubled South Waziristan tribal area bordering Afghanistan, where security forces were involved in operations to flush out al-Qaeda militants.

Wang Peng and Wang Ende, who were working on the Rs 12-billion Gomal Zam Dam, were abducted near Gadavi area when they were on their way from Tank to the project site, Pakistan Interior Ministry said in a statement in Islamabad.

A driver and a guard who escorted them was also kidnapped by the suspected militants.

The engineers were working for state-run Chinese company Sino Hydro Corp.

Expressing "deep concern" over the kidnapping of its nationals, China has asked Pakistan to take "effective" steps to ensure their safe return and to strengthen security arrangements for its nationals working there.

"China has urged the Pakistani Government to take effective measures to find the whereabouts of the Chinese engineers, ensure their safety and spare no effort in their rescue," Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said in Beijing.

"The Chinese side requests Pakistan to further strengthen security arrangements to ensure safety of the Chinese personnel working on Pakistani projects," Kong said.

Pakistan Information Minister Sheikh Rashid confirmed the abduction of two Chinese nationals and said security forces were fanned out in the area to locate their whereabouts.