An Australian aid worker kidnapped in Afghanistan was taken by armed men claiming to be from the country's primary intelligence agency, said the aid group she works for.

Key points: Details of who kidnapped Kerry Wilson and where she was taken unclear

Details of who kidnapped Kerry Wilson and where she was taken unclear Aid agency says she was taken away at gunpoint from office

Aid agency says she was taken away at gunpoint from office Afghan police have detained all aid staff as part of inquiries

Afghan police have detained all aid staff as part of inquiries Ms Wilson worked in Afghanistan and Pakistan for 20 years

Katherine Jane Wilson, 60, who also uses the first name Kerry, was taken from her office in the city of Jalalabad on Thursday morning.

It is not clear who is responsible or where she has been taken.

Ms Wilson works for the NGO, Zardozi, helping Afghan women develop incomes.

Zardozi's board chairman Dominic d'Angelo said Ms Wilson was taken at gunpoint.

"She was taken by two men who approached the door and persuaded the doorkeeper to open up, claiming they were from the National Directorate of Security, which is one of the Afghan security forces," he said.

"There are reports they were wearing military uniform but I can't confirm that.

"She was taken out at gunpoint and there was a third person outside, presumably in a car. And she was taken away at that point."

Aid worker was not wearing 'rose-coloured' glasses

Mr d'Angelo said all of the staff at the Jalalabad office were being detained by Afghan police as part of their inquiries.

He said Ms Wilson had worked in Pakistan and Afghanistan for about 20 years and was aware of the risks.

"She's not working with rose-coloured spectacles, she understands precisely the challenges working in Afghanistan and the risks associated with it," he said.

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"She normally travels in a very low-key fashion and although she's clearly not an Afghan woman from her appearance, nonetheless she doesn't attempt to promote herself or to show herself as being a foreigner.

"I think for internationals working in Afghanistan it's always recognised as a risk even for people who've been working here for a very long time as Kerry Jane has.

"It's probably more immediately shocking for the Afghan staff that something like this has broken into their everyday working lives."

He said the kidnapping would also be very difficult for the Afghan women who have been helped by Ms Wilson.

Mr d'Angelo said the organisation had not had contact from those responsible for Ms Wilson's abduction.

"It is likely that when those phone calls do come through, it will be to the Zardozi office in Kabul and I'm going to be talking to the staff here about how we can support them through the next 72 hours or so," he said.

Ms Wilson's father Brian said his daughter knew the risks and always took precautions while working.

"She's on the security network, it's always dangerous. There's always peril in the background," he said.