Gunmen kidnap American UN worker in Pakistan

Gunmen kidnapped an American UN official and killed his driver in southwest Pakistan today, underscoring the security threat in a country wracked by al-Qaida violence and rising criminality.

The abduction occurred as the man was heading to his job as the head of the UN refugee office in the main southwest city of Quetta, senior police official Khalid Masood said.

Mr Masood identified the kidnapped official as John Solecki, and said he was from the United States.

“Solecki has been serving in Quetta for more than two years,” Mr Masood said. “We cannot speculate on the motive behind the crime.”

Mr Masood said he was told of Solecki’s nationality by a Pakistani official from the UN agency. UN officials in Islamabad declined immediate comment.

Quetta is in Baluchistan, which borders Afghanistan.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has worked for years in the region helping Afghans fleeing violence in their homeland.

At the scene of the kidnapping in the Chaman Housing Society neighbourhood of the dusty, gritty city, a UNHCR Land Cruiser was rammed against a wall. At least one bullet hole was visible in the vehicle. Security officials were collecting evidence.

Southwest Pakistan is the scene of a low-level insurgency driven by nationalist groups wanting more autonomy for Baluchistan province, but, unlike Taliban and al Qaida militants fighting in the northwest, the Baluch groups are not known to target foreigners.

However, general crime also has been on the rise in many parts of the country, with kidnappings for ransom a favourite tactic.

An Iranian diplomat was abducted in the northwest city of Peshawar last year, and Afghan and other foreigners also have been seized.