DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Feb 11: Two western aid workers kidnapped in January were being held by the Taliban near the border with Afghanistan, a senior militant commander said on Saturday.    Gunmen stormed a house in Multan on Jan 19 and drove away with two foreigners — one an Italian citizen and the other believed to be a German.

“The two NGO (non-governmental organisation) workers who were kidnapped in Multan nearly a month ago are in our custody near the border. We haven’t made any demands yet,” a senior Taliban commander said.

“They are in good health.”

Punjab police chief said last month the foreigners were being held for ransom.

Criminal gangs often target foreign aid workers in Pakistan in the hope of securing large ransoms for their release. Pakistani officials say militant groups such as the Taliban are also involved in kidnappings.

The militant commander said the westerners were being held by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan.

In January, a Kenyan aid worker and his Pakistani driver went missing in Sindh province. A British doctor with the International Committee of the Red Cross was kidnapped by gunmen from Quetta on Jan 5.

Last year, American aid worker Warren Weinstein was kidnapped from Lahore. Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for Weinstein’s abduction in December.

In July, a Swiss couple were kidnapped from Balochistan province by the Pakistani Taliban.

Such kidnappings in Pakistan put off long-term investors.—Reuters