Taliban suspected behind kidnap of British boy

The police are investigating the possible involvement of the Taliban in the kidnapping of a five-year-old British boy of Pakistani origin, who was kidnapped while visiting relatives in Punjab province.

"We cannot rule out the possible involvement of the Taliban as there have been several cases of kidnapping for ransom in Punjab in recent days in which the Taliban were involved," a senior official of the Crime Investigation Department said.

Four men armed with guns and grenades snatched Sahil Saeed from his grandmother's home in Jhelum town, located 100 km from Islamabad, on March 4.

The kidnappers have demanded a ransom of $120,000 for the boy's release.

"A number of splinter groups of religious organisations work with the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and Al Qaida and they generate funds through kidnapping for ransom.

This money is then used for terror activities," the official said.

He hastened to add that "this did not mean that the police are overlooking other aspects of the case".

Punjab police chief Tariq Salim Dogar said several teams comprising officials from different agencies were working on various leads and aspects of the case.

"We are hopeful of a breakthrough and will recover the child safely," he said.

Investigators are also working on the possibility that an insider could have been involved in the abduction as the time of the departure of Sahil and his father Raja Naqqash Saeed for London on the day of the kidnapping was known only to their close relatives.

The abductors came to Sahil's home in a taxi whose driver had been asked to pick up the father and son. Police have detained the taxi driver.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani yesterday directed police to step up efforts to trace the boy. He also called the boy's father and assured him of the government's full support in recovering the child.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik has described the kidnapping as an attempt to "defame" Pakistan.

He visited the boy's family on Sunday and assured them that Sahil would be safely recovered.

Malik also contacted Interpol chief Ronald Noble and sought his assistance in locating the abductors.