Kidnap victim concern

A GOVERNMENT minister has described ongoing efforts to secure the return of a Dumfries man kidnapped in Pakistan as ‘deeply sensitive’.

Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has assured that the abduction at gunpoint of Red Cross worker Khalil Dale, 60, on January 5 in the insurgency-hit province of Baluchistan is being actively pursued.

Responding to a request for an update from Dumfriesshire MSP Dr Elaine Murray in the Scottish Parliament, Mr MacAskill said: “We have spoken several times with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London regarding Mr Dale. Our thoughts are with Mr Dale’s family, and we urge those involved to release Mr Dale and return him to his family as soon as possible.”

Khalil Dale, also known as ‘Ken’, was in the town of Quetta, just 200 yards from his residence, when his vehicle was stopped, assailants bundled him into a car and then drove away.

Speaking in Parliament, Dr Murray said: “I thank the cabinet secretary very much for his answer, because there was a flurry of media activity after Mr Dale was captured three weeks ago, but no information has been publicly available since then.

“His friends in Dumfries and Galloway are understandably extremely concerned.”

Dr Murray said she had been informed the Foreign and Commonwealth Office did not believe it is currently in Mr Dale’s interest to release information, but she asked Mr MacAskill to reassure he would continue to do all in his power to secure his release.

Offering that assurance, Mr MacAskill said: “These are deeply sensitive matters, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, those on the ground in Pakistan and the International Committee of the Red Cross are involved.

“I can assure Elaine Murray that all those involved have experience and a track record, and that those on site are doing what they can, but I appreciate the strain on the family.”



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