Oh the Karma of it all!!

[towerclimber37]

read this tonight from here

From Friday's Globe and Mail

March 12, 2009 at 9:38 PM EDT

BANNU, PAKISTAN and VANCOUVER — Taliban insurgents active in Pakistan's lawless tribal region have offered to free a Canadian woman held since November in return for a $375,000 (U.S.) ransom.

The demand came in an interview near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border with Qari, a man who preferred to identify himself only by his first name.

Qari says he's a close aide of Gul Bahadur, the Taliban head in the volatile North Waziristan region who is alleged to be responsible for the kidnapping of Beverly Giesbrecht, a West Vancouver woman who was in the area working as a freelance journalist.

Ms. Giesbrecht, 52, also goes by the name, Khadija Abdul Qahaar, after converting to Islam in 2002. She is the publisher of a pro-Islamic website, Jihad Unspun.

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Glen Cooper, a close friend of Ms. Giesbrecht's, Thursday declined comment on the report.

Officials at the High Commission for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, in Ottawa, said they knew nothing of the proposed deal.

Emma Welford, a spokeswoman for Foreign Affairs Canada, said she has “no new information,†but added that Canadian officials have been working with Pakistan to get Ms. Giesbrecht's safe release.

“We are pursuing all appropriate channels,†she said. “We are working to secure the best possible outcome.â€

Ms. Giesbrecht was seized at gunpoint along with two local assistants while travelling in the Bannu district, a gateway to the North Waziristan tribal belt, which borders Afghanistan.

Earlier reports had the Taliban offering her release in return for a large cash payment and a prisoner exchange.

But Qari said money alone could now secure her release.

“Once negotiators approach the Taliban … then definitely they will work out the timing and conditions for her release,†he said.

Qari said the demand for the release of Taliban prisoners detained elsewhere in Pakistan or Afghanistan was dropped in order to speed up a transaction.

It is believed the abducted Canadian woman is being kept somewhere on the border region of North Waziristan.

“She is safe and sound, for she is very precious for us. She has the freedom to interact with our female folk, whom she has got used to. Inshallah [God willing], she will not be harmed and we are confident that our demand will be accepted by the concerned government,†Qari said.

“She is provided with the best available facilities including food, medical care,†he said, although he acknowledged he had not seen her himself.

“She seems to be very encouraged with the reports that Taliban will spare her life in exchange for ransom,†he said.

The Canadian hostage is a sensitive issue in the area, with most of locals refusing to speak on the matter.

People in the area have been decapitated for allegedly being “spies for U.S forces.â€

A local man, with a thick black beard and turban, said people have been told not to discuss “her abduction issue or her whereabouts.â€

Weary tribesmen in the region are feeling greater insecurity because of a growing number of kidnappings and ongoing attacks by U.S. drones on suspected Taliban strongholds.

“If the tribesmen offer Taliban any food or even shake hands with them then the Pakistani security forces label them as sympathizers … But on the other hand when we provide [Pakistan] security forces … with drinking water, then the Taliban consider us as their foes,†said a Waziri tribesman, requesting not to be named.

There have been recent reports that a spate of kidnappings of Pakistani and foreign officials in the area have been triggered by the Taliban's need for money.

Muhammad Haroon, a local tribesman, said the Taliban are facing serious financial constraints at a time when their rivals are also under the grip of global financial crunch.

Some circles within the hard-line militia say Taliban leader Mullah Omar has issued directives to Pakistan-based Taliban heads to stop internal conflicts and concentrate on ejecting foreign forces from Afghanistan.

[Guest SUNTZU]

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