Two Italian soldiers accompanied by two Afghan citizens went missing while on patrol in western Afghanistan, Italian and Afghan authorities confirmed Sunday.

Police officials said the two Italian servicemen, their translator and driver were traveling from the western city of Herat to Shindand district on Saturday when they lost contact with their command.

According to the police, the troopers were travelling in two vehicles and one has been found abandoned near a checkpoint in Shindand, while the other vehicle has been reported missing along with the four men.

So far, the Taliban haven’t announced any kidnapping, but the whereabouts of the soldiers or the circumstances in which they disappeared are still unknown.

The Italian embassy in Kabul confirmed the disappearance of two servicemen in the western Herat province, saying an inquiry has been launched.

An embassy official said the men are members of the Provincial Reconstruction Team under the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), but according to the ISAF policy he didn’t reveal their names.

Afghan authorities said insurgents are active in Shindand district and the region is seen as a hotbed of extremism, numerous attacks being reported weekly in the volatile area.

If the Italians were seized by rebels, this would be the first abduction of NATO servicemen in Afghanistan. Over the past years, at least three Italian nationals have been kidnapped in the strife-torn country.

Foreign citizens are the main targets for insurgents, who kidnap them and demand ransoms or the release of other rebels from Afghan prisons in exchange for the hostages’ freedom.