Pakistani militant wanted for kidnapping Chinese engineers kills himself

Militant leader Abdullah Mehsud who has blown himself in order to avoid arrest, was wanted for kidnapping two Chinese engineers in Pakistan in 2004.

Islamabad, July 24 : Militant leader Abdullah Mehsud who has blown himself in order to avoid arrest, was wanted for kidnapping two Chinese engineers in Pakistan in 2004.

Mehsud was the mastermind behind the kidnapping of Chinese engineers in Pakistan in 2004.

He blew himself in south-western Balochistan province when army surrounded him, a police spokesman said.

Javed Cheema, Pakistan Interior Ministry spokesman told a news agency that Mehsud blew himself up with a hand grenade after soldiers raided a hideout in Zhob district of south-western Balochistan.

The explosion wounded no military personnel.

Mehsud was wanted for kidnapping two Chinese engineers, one of whom was killed, in South Waziristan in 2004.

Analysts say the kidnapping was an attempt to secure the release of the al-Qaeda militants held during army operations in South Waziristan.

Mehsud, whose real name was Noor Alam belonged to Pashtun tribe and fought for the Taliban against the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan.

He also spent 25 months in custody at the US base in Guantanamo Bay.

Since his return from Guantanamo Bay, Mehsud became a hero to anti-US fighters active in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

ANI