A US citizen has been kidnapped in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore. Reuters reports:
The man, who the U.S. embassy declined to identify, works for the consulting firm J.E. Austin Associates Inc., and was working on a development project in the country’s lawless tribal areas, where Pakistani troops have been battling Islamist insurgents for years.
A U.S. embassy spokesman said they were trying to confirm the reports.
“Some six to eight people broke into his house at around 3:30 a.m., when security guards on duty were making preparation for fasting,” police official Tajamal Hussain told Reuters, referring to the Ramadan fast observed by Muslims.
“Two of the assailants came from the front gate while about six others used the backdoor. They tortured the guards and then took the American with them.”
A security official familiar with the incident said the gunmen forced the man’s driver to knock on his bedroom door. When the man opened it, they took him.
No group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping at this time, but given the nature and the target of this kidnapping, he is likely to end up in the hands of terrorist groups, if he wasn’t kidnapped by a terrorist group directly. South Waziristan Taliban leader Waliur Rehman Mehsud is currently holding two Swiss citizens, who were originally kidanapped in Baluchistan province, and said he would release the Swiss couple if the US freed Aafia Siddiqui, who is better known as “Lady al Qaeda.”
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5 Comments
Sorry to hear this–one can empathise with what the man is going through.
Unless you’re ready to ‘wing it’ these risks are a reality in this barbarous environment.
The ISI is working overtime to free the daughter-of-Pakistan!
All bets are on whether Obama will keep to his promise and visit Pakistan this year.
He made this promise under pressure when he went to India last year, in order to appease the neighbour’s jealousy. Interesting to see what he sees, or does not see, beyond the end of his nose.
Apparently the promise is still alive:
http://nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Regional/Lahore/22-Jul-2011/Obama-to-visit-Pakistan-this-year-says-US-official
It will be telling whether dates are announced in advance or he is compelled to fly in covertly. (Check out what the India visit entailed).
tp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1326962/Obamas-India-visit-security-erect-bomb-proof-tunnel-Gandhi-museum.html
Poor America, how did you ever get into bed with this sleaze of a concubine?
According to a news report, this Mr.Weinstein had earlier that evening returned from Islamabad and announced to his local employees that he was leaving Pakistan on the coming Monday (Aug 15th).
IF true, the scenario would be : Called to the ISI HQ, informed of blown cover, and asked to leave the country. Arresting him at that point would have complicated the matter. So they did a snatch instead.
Now we will keep wondering if it was the Taliban or some other group looking for ransom. In the mean time, he is put in some torture cell like our friend, the journalist from Asia Times was. Expect nothing good.
Cheney/Bush invaded the wrong country after 911. As long as the opium is still flowing thats all that matters. Pakistan (Sunni flavor)/ Saudi Arabia brothers in arms.