A commando who deserted from the Pakistan Army has emerged as a suspect in the abduction of an American aid expert in Punjab's provincial capital, police officials said on Sunday.
The former member of the elite Special Services Group was working as a guard at the residence of American national Warren Weinstein, who was kidnapped by a dozen gunmen early on Saturday.
He had deserted from the army some time ago and belonged to the restive tribal belt bordering Afghanistan, a source in a law enforcement agency told mediapersons.
"Investigators are interrogating the guard and are hoping to get some clues from him," the source said. The four guards at Weinstein's home and his driver have been detained by police for questioning.
Law enforcement agencies are also conducting inquiry about persons employed by Weinstein. All four guards posted at Weinstein's residence were former SSG commandos and were being paid a large sum to protect him, the source said.
"It is quite strange that these former commandos did not offer any resistance and let the kidnappers go about their job with ease," the source said. According to the formal complaint filed by police, Weinstein was the country head for J E Austin Associates, a US-based consulting firm that has been associated with United States Agency for International Development projects in Pakistan since 2005.
