Two British men believed to be kidnapped in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR - Police in Pakistan are searching for two British men believed to have been kidnapped close to the Khyber Pass, an area notorious for Taliban activity and criminal gangs.

According to the Telegraph, relatives in Birmingham said Zafran Jamil and Zahid Mohammed had been visiting family in the north-western city of Peshawar, close to the border with Afghanistan, but had not been in touch since December 21.

Shah Nawaz, a police officer in Peshawar investigating the case, said: “They had gone to Khyber Agency for sightseeing but were kidnapped by professional kidnappers there.”

Zahida Parvin, mother of Zafran Jamil who is 34, told the BBC in Birmingham that a ransom of 28,000 pounds was being demanded.

She said the two were on holiday and had been staying with Mr Mohammed’s family.

The Khyber Agency is known to be used by al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters, who have attacked Nato convoys travelling to Afghanistan with supplies for international troops.

A British High Commission spokesman in Islamabad said consular staff were investigating the reports. (ANI)