WASHINGTON: The US State Department urged Al Qaeda on Thursday to immediately release an American they captured in Pakistan more than two years ago.

The statement followed the release of a video earlier on Thursday which showed Warren Weinstein appealing to US President Barack Obama to negotiate his release.

“We’re working hard to authenticate this latest report, but we reiterate our call that Warren Weinstein be released and returned to his family,” State Department Deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf told Fox News. “Particularly during this holiday season -- another one away from his family -- our hopes and prayers are with him and those who love and miss him.”

In the video, the first since two videos were released in September 2012, Mr Weinstein said he felt “totally abandoned and forgotten”.

Mr Weinstein, the country director in Pakistan for a US firm J.E. Austin Associates, was abducted from his house in Lahore in August 2011.

“Nine years ago I came to Pakistan to help my government, and I did so at a time when most Americans would not come here, and now when I need my government it seems that I have been totally abandoned and forgotten,” he said. Addressing President Obama, he said: “And so I again appeal to you to instruct your appropriate officials to negotiate my release”.

Journalists in Pakistan received an electronic copy of the video and an accompanying letter by email. The accompany letter said the video was released by “as-Sahab”, which is Al Qaeda’s media wing.

Opinion

Editorial

Mosquito season
10 Mar, 2025

Mosquito season

AS temperatures rise, the threat of dengue looms large over Pakistan. Its warning signs have already arrived. Dengue...
Reckless rhetoric
10 Mar, 2025

Reckless rhetoric

ONCE again, the Indian leadership gave in to their worst impulses, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar...
Water scarcity
Updated 10 Mar, 2025

Water scarcity

The need to meet climate challenge is even greater when Pakistan is prone to multiple disastrous events at the same time.
Banning groups
Updated 09 Mar, 2025

Banning groups

The state’s approach of banning groups, and then letting them operate with new monikers, must be revisited.
Targeting students
09 Mar, 2025

Targeting students

THE Trump administration’s mission to ‘Make America Great Again’ is well underway, and, in true Trumpian ...
Torkham dispute
09 Mar, 2025

Torkham dispute

THE Torkham crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan has remained closed for two weeks, after a dispute over border...