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American Contractor Abducted at Gunpoint in Pakistan

American Contractor Warren Weinstein Abducted at Gunpoint in Pakistan

Pakistani media outside the house of an abducted American citizen in Lahore, Pakistan. Gunmen abducted an American man after raiding his home Saturday, officials said, an unusually brazen attack on a foreigner in a country where kidnappings are believed to help fund Islamist militant movements. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Gunmen abducted an American after breaking in to his house in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore on Saturday in an unusually brazen raid that illustrated the threat to foreigners in this militancy-wracked, U.S.-allied country.

The U.S. Embassy identified the victim as Warren Weinstein. A man by that name serves as the Pakistan country director for J.E. Austin Associates, a development contractor that works with the aid arm of the American government, according to a profile on the LinkedIn networking website.

Pakistani police said the American was believed to be in his 60s, and had returned to Lahore the previous night from the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. He had told his staff that would be wrapping up his latest project and moving out of Pakistan by Monday, police official Tajammal Hussain said.

The profile says Weinstein is based in Lahore and has been in Pakistan for seven years. Calls to the company headquarters in Virginia were not immediately answered, but its website describes Weinstein as a development expert with 25 years experience and a Ph.D. in international law and economics.

His company’s website says he was in charge of a program that has been trying to help strengthen the competitiveness of various Pakistani industries.

“He’s a short, funny man with a quick wit,” said Raza Rumi, a Pakistani journalist who last saw Weinstein about a year ago and said he could speak a fair amount of Urdu. “He’s a very laid-back guy, not too worried about security issues, not really paranoid at all.”

According to Pakistani police, between eight and 10 assailants broke into the American’s house in an upscale neighborhood in Lahore after persuading the guards to open the gate by saying they wanted to give them food – an act of sharing common during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Police declined to speculate on the motive behind the abduction. However, militant organizations frequently target foreigners in Pakistan, although it is rare for assailants to stage such a raid on a victim’s home.

Kidnappings for ransom also are common in Pakistan, with most of the victims being Pakistani. Criminal gangs are suspected in most of the abductions, though militant groups also are believed to use the tactic to fund themselves through ransoms.

The Pakistani Taliban claim to be holding a Swiss man and woman kidnapped earlier this summer as they were traveling through a remote southwestern region. The militant group, which is based in the northwest tribal belt bordering Afghanistan, has demanded that the U.S. free a Pakistani woman convicted of trying to kill Americans in exchange for the Swiss pair’s freedom.

Americans in Pakistan are considered especially at risk from militant attack because the insurgents oppose Islamabad’s alliance with Washington and the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan. U.S. diplomats, aid workers and others are urged to take strong security precautions.

Ties between Washington and Islamabad plummeted after an American CIA contractor in January shot dead two Pakistanis he said were trying to rob him.

The American was held in a jail in Lahore for two months despite Washington’s insistence he was immune from prosecution because he had diplomatic status. He was eventually freed after the victims’ families were given compensation.

Lahore is the capital of the eastern Punjab province, a region bordering India that is home to several of Pakistan’s top militant networks, some of which are suspected of ties to Pakistani intelligence. Major attacks in Lahore include a 2009 ambush of Sri Lanka’s cricket team that killed six police and a driver.

The unilateral American raid that killed al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden on May 2 in the northwest Pakistani town of Abbottabad further soured ties between the two countries and led to increased scrutiny on Americans living in Pakistan.

Earlier this week, the U.S. State Department issued a travel warning for its citizens saying that American diplomats are facing increased harassment and they, along with aid workers and journalists, have been falsely identified as spies in the local media.

Still, American lawmakers and officials have made a slew of trips in recent weeks to try to maintain the relationship with Islamabad. On Saturday, U.S. Sen. John McCain arrived in Islamabad for meetings with top Pakistani officials, the U.S. Embassy confirmed.

Comments (37)

  • Bernard
    Posted on August 15, 2011 at 5:30pm

    Pakistani treachery in full force. This is a nation that hid Osama Bin Laden for years while lying to the United states. This is a nation that is ground zero for training and equipping terrorists, This is a nation who illegally got Nuclear technology from China and now is a threat to the entire sub continent. This is a nation in which President Obama signed in 7.5 billion dollars last year for Pakistan’s use while she betrayed the US.
    Now that this relationship is marred by the death of Osama bin Laden, exposing the duplicity of Pakistan, this American contractor is but a victim of the tension between the US and Pakistan who took only a few hours to arrest this man but for years denied the exact place where Osama was residing. Pakistan by her actions is no better than a Pariah nation and she is proud of the title.
    As time goes by the US will be victim to the various nefarious actions by Pakistan just like what India continues to suffer.
    The recent action of Pakistan to let Chinese officials to photograph and take samples of an advanced US helicopter, with technology unknown outside of this nation. Answer cut all donations to Pakistan. Isolate her with embargoes and report her actions regarding the US helicopter fiasco tot the UN

    Report Post »  
  • TimAZ
    Posted on August 14, 2011 at 7:54pm

    Is there a dollar amount that one should accept to go to a country where this is likely what is in store for you. How do you put a dollar amount on a high risk job when the dollar is constantly losing value?

    Report Post » TimAZ  
  • AB5r
    Posted on August 14, 2011 at 9:31am

    Comments are still being censored, some twit, mostly on the weekends, blocks comments. What is going on “Blaze” – is there some sort of liberal freak working your web forum?

    Report Post » AB5r  
  • Eyeball
    Posted on August 14, 2011 at 2:12am

    He was very laid back huh? Sounds rather naive to me. Maybe even stupid.

    Report Post » Eyeball  
  • Suzanne
    Posted on August 13, 2011 at 5:08pm

    The Deceiver in Chief says ‘respect it’….The guards at the gate were bribed with food…on occasion of the wonderfully altruistic and benevolent ramadan observance…what the hell does that tell you about the evil depravity and use of taqyia to achieve treachery. There is no honor or integrity with the taliban, therefore, there is no reason the view them any differently than the vile thugs they are…totally void of anything deserving of respect . Yes…I do foresee a Daniel Pearl moment…

    Report Post » Suzanne  
  • dontbotherme
    Posted on August 13, 2011 at 5:06pm

    Oh Lord. I’m afraid that this is not going to end well. I sincerely hope that God protects him & blesses his family.

    Report Post »  
  • TheWholeTruth
    Posted on August 13, 2011 at 1:32pm

    I’m gonna take a wild guess… I could be wrong… BUT it’s happened before!

    COULD this POSSIBLY be our own government silencing another whistle blower? Seems that we had a case of that happening in the news just recently. Remember the man going after Cheney? HE worked for a private contractor. He was a whistle blower. HE got abducted as well.

    Smells fishy to me given the ‘facts’ in this article and subsequent comments… just sayin`

    Report Post »  
  • jackact
    Posted on August 13, 2011 at 12:03pm

    No more nation building. Pakistan is a muslim-controlled terror state to it’s root.
    The money that the US could save ($3billion in aid annually), and that doesn’t include US Military costs, could be a substantial down payment on our $14 trillion dollar debt.
    The same for Egypt, Jordan, Turkey and a host of middle eastern terrorist-based countries.

    Report Post »  
    • Vickie Dhaene
      Posted on August 13, 2011 at 12:15pm

      I agree with you on this one. The Bible tells us all how things are going to happen. The Us is helpless to stop any of it and I agree we need to pull away. We need to reduce our Government or there is going to be war here.

      Report Post »  
  • Hiswill
    Posted on August 13, 2011 at 12:00pm

    The militants in Pakistan, Iraq, and Afghanistan are as dumb as a board. All they needed to do was accept all our billions of dollars to rebuild their roads, schools, hospitals and their cities. We would have left years ago. The more they fight against the US the longer we stay and the more troops we send.

    Report Post » Hiswill  
  • Uechi
    Posted on August 13, 2011 at 11:59am

    Just one more reason why I’m not working overseas unless I have a bunch of bodyguards and I am packing.

    Report Post »  
  • Jack2011
    Posted on August 13, 2011 at 11:57am

    I am not sorry to say – must stink to be this guy.

    Too bad – so sad. Military contractors are lice/leeches siphoning off American taxpayer money, overcharging and even lobbying to start and extend wars so they can benefit financially.

    Our military and government are such liars. They say they are drawing down the active duty troops and then replace them with contractors and other civilians so to hide the amount of money that is being spent over there.

    Report Post »  
    • Jack2011
      Posted on August 13, 2011 at 12:02pm

      And, I am pretty sure they pay NO federal taxes if they are contractors working for a private company either. At least the contractors I worked with didn’t. The civilians working for the fed gov’t did pay taxes though.

      Report Post »  
    • Look4DBigPicture
      Posted on August 13, 2011 at 12:27pm

      What a jerk thing to say. Military contractors are trying to make a living to support their families, just like everyone else in this world. He wasn’t sitting at home doing nothing while collecting unemployment and food stamps like so many leaches in this country today.

      Report Post »  
  • BeingThere
    Posted on August 13, 2011 at 11:28am

    I wouldn’t set foot in any of these sh*thole countries. Bring the troops home now!!!!

    Report Post » BeingThere  
    • for-what-its-worth
      Posted on August 13, 2011 at 12:35pm

      @ BEINGTHERE

      I wouldn’t set foot in any of these sh*thole countries.

      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

      Exactly…It’s Pakistan!

      These people HATE us. Any American who goes to any of these countries, whether for work or missionary causes, should expect trouble.

      Their “caveman” ideology WILL NEVER CHANGE!!

      Report Post » for-what-its-worth  
  • Unstable Phenomenon
    Posted on August 13, 2011 at 10:01am

    I am shocked that our awesome, sweet, friendly, peace seeking, wicked cool, fantastic, and trusting allies would even allow this ( sarcasm ). Are you freaking kidding me “ unusually brazen raid ” and “ persuading the guards ”. He was an American in a country that hates our guts. I’m sorry Blaze, but you could of at least been a little more truthful with this one. We all know that Pakistan hates out guts, there may be about 10% of their population that might like us. I have no doubt the guards were in on it, because if they were not they would of been killed, and that’s the truth. Also maybe someone from his staff, because the article did mention he announced to his staff he was leaving on Monday, and wow he gets kidnapped shortly there after his announcement. They should put those two guards in jail, and beat the truth out of them.

    Report Post » Unstable Phenomenon  
  • tomloy
    Posted on August 13, 2011 at 9:52am

    I wouldn’t go overseas anywhere in the middle east, except Israel. Its too risky and americans are too
    disliked.

    Report Post »  
    • walkwithme1966
      Posted on August 13, 2011 at 10:10am

      Not good to go where we are not liked! I read a interview article yesterday that Pakistan was the money behind 9/11. http://wp.me/pYLB7-1lr

      Report Post » walkwithme1966  
    • kindling
      Posted on August 14, 2011 at 2:02am

      BUT BUT BUT……Obama was supposed to fix that and the Muslims are supposed to love us now.

      Report Post » kindling  
  • psst
    Posted on August 13, 2011 at 9:46am

    Hit your head against a brick wall, hit your head against a brick wall,hit it again and again.And again
    If you only keep hitting your head again and again,mebbe in the next thousand years (I think that’s too short a time myself), the Moslems will see their religion of peace is all crapola.
    Until then, they’ll keep trying to kill US..
    The Phokistanis (a li’l Soetoro lingo) have been playing US like chin music for many many Moons, not just under Soetoro.
    We have squandered Billions, I bet it’s quite a few trillions in total since we started, trying to bribe them to be nice to US. They take our loot while their ISI hides OBL, tell their terrorist bretherens our troop’s location and most likely participates in attacks on them.
    Wake up fools. Leaves ignorant Moslems to their own destructions. Islam is INCOMPATIBLE w/ Western cultures.
    Leave them alone. All of them. Including the Saudis, who sells us billions/trillions in oil, and uses the money to subvert US and our interest. We have our own oil. All I can say is our pols must be getting huge sums under the table to keep this sheet up.Well, except the Moslem Soetero. He just wants to destroy US No bribes necessary for the Moslem.
    When and if we get out of EyeRock, EyeRan will just move in.We cannot stay/should not stay there forever.
    Leave All the Moslems alone. most of the Saudi financed Musks that are being built here are hotbeds of radicalism. Send them home. Islam is Incompatible w/ our culture.

    Report Post »  
  • Carol Ingian
    Posted on August 13, 2011 at 9:34am

    Weinstein had security guards and was still kidnapped?
    I pray for the safety of Glenn, and all going to Israel.

    Report Post »  
    • Mia Cav
      Posted on August 13, 2011 at 2:01pm

      When I first heard this story on the radio this morning, the *first* thing I thought was “Oh my God, he’s Jewish!” Whatever comes of this, we must remember he was the first (this time).

      Report Post »  
  • usmc1063
    Posted on August 13, 2011 at 9:28am

    Okay we all know why he was abducted the question is when are we going to understand these countries are not our friends and stop pumping money into them. We need to stop this nonsense and quit being bullied by these little rinkie dink nations and go about our own business.

    Report Post » usmc1063  
    • gramma b
      Posted on August 13, 2011 at 9:37am

      I hope it is not another Daniel Pearl outcome.

      Report Post »  
  • ko4ch
    Posted on August 13, 2011 at 9:18am

    He was not only captured for money, but because his last name is Weinstein.
    The Jewish persecution continues.

    Report Post » ko4ch  
    • ashestoashes
      Posted on August 13, 2011 at 9:46am

      Yeah…I was just thinking the same thing. Anybody remember poor Nicholas Burg? …..He wa the 26 yr old contracter who was kidnapped over there a few years back Four or five of those pukes held him down and cut off his head with a crude knife while he screamed bloody murder until they cut through his vocal chords.
      Poor poor muslims.

      Report Post »  
  • Sicialian Eyeball
    Posted on August 13, 2011 at 9:17am

    Why was he abducted? #1 They’re muslims.#2 He’s American. #3 Weinstein. Duh!

    Report Post »  
  • nysparkie
    Posted on August 13, 2011 at 9:12am

    ROSE_ELLEN: There go your guys again. Acting all peaceful and loveable. I’ll tell ya this Islam thing has its points. Being able to grab people “Who are oppressing” you, as I’m sure this USA Contractor was. Boy I bet he must have hurt what? None of the citizenry of this stone pile of a country. Well I fault him for trying to help out. He should have stayed home instead of trying to make a honest living. I mean just by being an American, can you believe the gall of this guy. By citizenship he is just mucking things up by being there. They will teach him a good lesson I bet. No worries about his safety though. I’m sure these peaceful and honest Islamists will just let him go after they show him the wrong he has done by just being there. Terrible to enter a country to have a job. Shame on him, Right Rose?

    Report Post » nysparkie  
  • BOMUSTGO
    Posted on August 13, 2011 at 9:12am

    With a last name like Weinstein, he does not have much of a chance for survival.All we can do is pray for this man unless, it is now too late.

    Report Post » BOMUSTGO  
    • Look4DBigPicture
      Posted on August 13, 2011 at 12:21pm

      Sadly, I agree. This CNN report is typical of CNN. Motivated by money not politics or religion? Get real.

      Report Post »  
  • MidWestMom
    Posted on August 13, 2011 at 9:10am

    The U.S. Embassy identified the victim as Warren Weinstein. A man by that name serves as the Pakistan country director for J.E. Austin Associates, a development contractor that works with the aid arm of the American government,
    ———————————————————————————————————————–
    So does this mean the company is working in Pakistan under the direction & protection of the US? If so, is this kidnapping considered the same as if it were one of our soldiers? Or is the company there on their own initiative? If so, sadly this is the risk he & his company took. Either way, the company should have had much better security for their employees.

    Report Post »  
  • Dustyluv
    Posted on August 13, 2011 at 8:40am

    I hate that this happened. We are fools to have our military in where there is a Muslim civil war brewing. get out and let them destroy each other. Get all Americans who want to leave out of there. If they want to stay they are on their own.

    Protect Israel and protect our Homeland. the rest of the world can fight it all out. If someone screws with us, they should feel the full effect of a swift and sure retaliation, not the nation building, *****-footing BS we are involved in now.

    Bring our troops home for true defense and only a swift offense when we are messed with. Take down something in New York, LA or somewhere else and we bomb Mecca back to the stone age…how bout that?

    Report Post »  
  • poverty.sucks
    Posted on August 13, 2011 at 8:36am

    The unbelief that God is offensive to Islam is a conscience choice to be deceived.

    Report Post » poverty.sucks  

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