John Solecki
NationalityAmerican
OccupationUnited Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)[1]
Parents

John Solecki was the head of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in the Pakistani city of Quetta. Solecki had been working in Balochistan to help the Afghan refugees, the communities hosting them and the local people affected by floods and earthquakes.[3]

Kidnapping and aftermath

On February 2, 2009, he was kidnapped by a Baloch terrorist group named Balochistan Liberation United Front (BLUF). His driver, Syed Hashim, was shot and later he died at a local hospital.[3] Solecki was held as a hostage by BLUF for 61 days.[4] While he was in their captivity, BLUF had repeatedly threatened to behead him.[5][4]

Following the abduction of Solecki, United Nation Resident Representative, Fikret Akcura, disclosed that Brahumdagh Bugti had connections with the abduction of UN official John Solecki in 2009.[6] Similarly, United Nations Special Representative to Afghanistan, Kai Eide, called the then President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai. President Karzai admitted that Brahumdagh Bugti was in Kabul and that he will pressure Brahumdagh Bugti for the safe release of John Solecki.[7] Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik also believed that Brahumdagh Bugti was behind the kidnapping of Solecki.[8]

Solecki was eventually released on April 4, 2009. He was found on the side of the road in Khadkhutcha, 30 miles south of Quetta. His hands and feet were bounded when he was found.[1]

John Solecki is the son of American archaeologists Ralph Solecki and Rose Solecki.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "'IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK HOME'". New York Post. 9 April 2009.
  2. ↑ "Transcript: Plea of U.N. hostage's mother". CNN. 23 February 2009.
  3. 1 2 "UNHCR's John Solecki freed and on his way home". UNHCR. 5 April 2009.
  4. 1 2 "NJ MAN HELD CAPTIVE IN PAKISTAN SAYS 'IT'S GREAT TO BE FREE'". New York Post. 8 April 2009.
  5. ↑ "Captors free abducted UN official at the Afghan border". News 18. 5 April 2009.
  6. ↑ "Is asylum for Balochistan's separatist leaders warranted?". Asia Times. 21 December 2017. Later he went to Switzerland, as connections emerged with the abduction of a UN official from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, in 2009 as disclosed by UN Resident Representative Fikret Akcura.
  7. ↑ "US embassy cables: Update on a UN official kidnapped by Balochi militants". The Guardian. 30 November 2010. Ambassador noted that UNSRG Kai Eide had called President Karzai, who finally admitted that Brahamdagh Bugti was in Kabul and agreed to press Bugti on Solecki's release.
  8. ↑ ’سلیکی کے اغواء میں براہمداغ کا ہاتھ‘, BBC, 22 April 2009
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