Pakistani envoy's abduction: foreign office in touch with mediators for release

CNews Pakistan: said on Saturday that it is in touch with the mediators for the release of its ambassador to Afghanistan Tariq Azizuddin, who was kidnapped in the Pakistani tribal region in February while proceeding to Kabul.The ambassador Tariq Azizuddin appeared on Arabic television on Saturday saying he was being held by the Taliban and urged the government to accept their demands. "We are in touch with the mediators to free the ambassador," Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Sadiq said."We can not disclose demands of kidnappers for safety reasons," the spokesman told a private TV channel. The ambassador was kidnapped on February 11 along with his guard Amir Sultan and driver Gul Nawaz. It was stated earlier that the ambassador may have been kidnapped for ransom but the 4-minute video released by Al-Arabiya TV channel shows that he is in the control of Taliban.It was not clear if he is still in the Pakistani tribal region or taken into Afghanistan. "We were kidnapped by Taliban Mujahideen from the Ali Masjid area in Kheyber Agency when we were heading to Afghanistan in official car," the ambassador said in Urdu language."If they demand the release of several Muslims, they should be freed," he pleaded. Driver and guard of the ambassador were sitting his right and left but they were quite. "We are the guests of Taliban Mujahideen and they are taking care of us," he said.The video was recorded on March 8, as was mentioned by the ambassador when a man, not seen in the video told him to mention the date and the day. "I am suffering from high blood pressure and heart pains," said Azizuddin, who was guarded by three masked-armed men. The armed men were standing behind the ambassador and his two colleagues. The ambassador did not say as to whom Taliban want to exchange with him and the Foreign Office spokesman was also quite.The ambassador asked his brother Tahir Azizuddin, Pakistan's ambassador to Iran Salman Rashid, Pakistan's ambassador to China Shafqat Saeed and Foreign Secretary Riaz Muhammad Khan to make efforts for saving their lives. He also appealed to his family to pray for his release and do not worry about him.