Greece holds Pakistan responsible for abduction of its citizen

Islamabad, Sep.30 (ANI): Greece is holding Pakistan responsible for the abduction of one of its citizens, Athanasius Lerounis, from Chitral earlier this month.

"The Ministry of Interior is directly responsible for kidnapping of Lerounis,"The Nation quoted the Greek Ambassador to Pakistan, Petros Mavroidis, as saying.

Mavroidis avoided responding to a question on whether the Greek authorities have approached the Afghan government for help as the kidnappers have reportedly shifted Lerounis to Afghanistan.

"This is a very sensitive matter. I do not want to comment more on it," he said.

Lerounis, who has been actively engaged in carrying out development work in the Kalash region since 1994, was kidnapped from the Bumburate valley on September 8.

It may be noted that the Kalash community had recently threatened to leave Pakistan if the government fails to take substantial action against Lerounis's kidnappers.

The community has demanded deployment of troops in the areas of Bumburate, Birir and Rambore.

he Taliban has demanded a ransom of two million dollars and release of three of its Afghan leaders in return for a safe release of Lerounis. (ANI)