Islamabad (PTI): Pakistan has launched a massive search for the nation's missing envoy to Afghanistan and two nuclear experts, who were abducted along with six others from the restive tribal area near Afghan border, foreign office said on Tuesday.

"Efforts are being made at all levels to find the missing ambassador", Foreign Office Spokesman Muhammad Sadiq said.

Sadiq said that he could not still confirm or reject the possibility of kidnapping of the ambassador Tariq Azizuddin.

Azizuddin was heading to Kabul from Peshawar with his driver and a security guard when they disappeared in the Khyber tribal district yesterday, Sadiq was quoted as saying by the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency.

"He has gone missing, we are confirming he is missing but at this stage we cannot give you any more details", he said.

Two officials of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) along with six others were also kidnapped on Monday by unidentified gunmen from a troubled northwestern area near the Afghan border.

"The PAEC officials Ziaullah and Bisaat Khan were kidnapped yesterday by unidentified armed men in Sheikh Badin area adjacent to the Lakki Marwat and Dera Ismail Khan districts," local police chief Akbar Nasir earlier said.

Both officials were technicians and were on a routine visit to conduct a geological survey for mineral exploration in the mountainous area. The other abducted men include their driver Safdar and five locals.