Al-Qaida holds missing American – Al-Zawahiri | Asian Correspondent

Finally, the mystery surrounding the fate of 70 years old abducted American developmental expert Warren Weinstein has been cleared. In a 30 minutes long audio statement, the newly appointed chief of Al-Qaeda, Dr. Aiman Al-Zawahiri has claimed responsibility for Weinstein’s abduction. The statement was released by Al-Qaida’s official media wing As-Sahab through various Jihadist websites on December 1.

Dr Weinstein was kidnapped on gunpoint on August 13 from his residence in upscale Model Town of Provincial capital Lahore after the abductors overpowered his four guards. At the time of kidnapping, he was serving as chief of party for JAA (J E Austin Associates) on the Pakistan Initiative for Strategic Development and Competitiveness.

In the statement, Al-Zawahiri spelled out a series of demands to the US government for the safe release of Weinstein. The demands include halting US attacks in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia and Gaza; release of Al-Qaida prisoners including 1 convicts of the World Trade center bombing; release of family members of his predecessor Osama bin Laden; closure of Guantanamo Bay and other secret prisons; and allowing trade between Egypt and Gaza.

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