Son of Khan of Kalat kidnapped with three guards in Balochistan

A son of the Khan of Kalat has been kidnapped in Balochistan along with three of his guards, according to reports carried by The Express Tribune and NDTV.

The Express Tribune described the abducted man in its headline as the Prince of Kalat. NDTV called him a Baloch prince and the son of the Khan of Kalat. Neither report gave his name.

Both outlets said three men were taken with him. The Express Tribune described them as guards; NDTV referred to them as gunmen. Neither report said whether anyone was wounded in the incident, whether a ransom had been demanded, or where in Balochistan the kidnapping happened. Neither gave a time.

No group was named as responsible in either account, and neither report cited a claim of responsibility.

The reports also carried no statement from the Balochistan government, from the provincial police or from the Levies force, which is deployed in much of the province. It was not immediately clear whether a first information report had been registered or who was leading any investigation.

Kalat is a district in central Balochistan and the seat of a former princely state. The Khan of Kalat holds no administrative office, but the title remains a respected ceremonial and tribal position among Baloch, Brahui and other communities in the area, and members of the family are public figures in the province.

Abductions, including kidnappings for ransom and cases tied to the security situation in parts of Balochistan, have been reported from the province over the years. The reports on this case did not say how it was being treated by the authorities.

This newspaper could not independently confirm the kidnapping, the identity of the abducted man or the number of people taken with him. The details in this report are those published by The Express Tribune and NDTV, and both outlets may add to them as officials respond.