Czech president asks President Zardari for help on missing women

New Czech President Milos Zeman writes personal letter to President Asif Ali Zardari

PRAGUE: New Czech President Milos Zeman on Monday appealed to President Asif Ali Zardari for help in locating two Czech women abducted last week in Balochistan.

Sworn into office last week, Zeman on Monday wrote a personal letter to Zardari, presidential spokesperson Hana Burianova told reporters.

Pakistani security forces have so far been unable to locate the two women who were taken at gunpoint last Wednesday from Chaghi district, which borders both Iran and Afghanistan and is located some 550 kilometers west of Quetta.

So far no one has demanded a ransom.

Identified as Hana Humpalova and Antonie Chrastecka, both psychology students, the women had apparently crossed into Pakistan from Iran on holiday.

A policeman who was escorting the women was reportedly also kidnapped with them, but later released.

"The Pakistani side has been very active. Their interior ministry has created a crisis unit," Czech foreign ministry spokesperson Johana Grohova said Monday.