Kidnapping of Swiss tourists in Balochistan
Encyclopedia
On the 2nd of July 2011, a Swiss
couple was kidnapped in the Balochistan province of southwestern Pakistan
. The couple were said to be tourists who were travelling by car to neighboring Iran
when they were seized by unidentified gunmen in the Loralai District
, which is some 150 km north of the provincial capital Quetta
. It is the first time that Swiss nationals have been involved in such an incident in Pakistan, according to the Swiss foreign ministry
. Later, the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.
Pakistani officials notified Swiss diplomats stationed in the country about the abduction as soon as the incident occurred. The Balochistan Police
has launched a search operation for the couple under the direction of the Government of Balochistan.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
couple was kidnapped in the Balochistan province of southwestern Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. The couple were said to be tourists who were travelling by car to neighboring Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
when they were seized by unidentified gunmen in the Loralai District
Loralai District
Loralai is a district in the centre of Balochistan province of Pakistan. Loralai district was created on October, 1903. Loralai town is the district headquarters...
, which is some 150 km north of the provincial capital Quetta
Quetta
is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
. It is the first time that Swiss nationals have been involved in such an incident in Pakistan, according to the Swiss foreign ministry
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs is a department of the federal administration of Switzerland. It is charged with maintaining the foreign relations of Switzerland and serves as Switzerland's ministry of foreign affairs...
. Later, the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.
Pakistani officials notified Swiss diplomats stationed in the country about the abduction as soon as the incident occurred. The Balochistan Police
Balochistan Police
The Balochistan Police are responsible for policing in the province of Balochistan, Pakistan. The current Inspector-General of Balochistan Police is Malik Muhammad Iqbal, Bps [22]-See also:* Law enforcement in Pakistan...
has launched a search operation for the couple under the direction of the Government of Balochistan.