U.S. Citizen Kidnapped from Pakistan Home by Armed Men

A U.S. citizen was kidnapped from his home in Pakistab's eastern city of Lahore early Saturday by a group of Armed men.

The UK's Telegraph reported that the U.S. embassy has identified the man as Warren Weinstein, who works for the consulting firm J.E. Austin Associates. Weinstein was working on a development project in the country's lawless tribal areas, where Pakistani troops have been battling Islamist insurgents for years.

"Some six to eight people broke into his house at around 3.30 a.m., when security guards on duty were making preparation for fasting," said police official Tajamal Hussain, referring to the Ramadan fast observed by Muslims, to the Telegraph.

Hussain told Reuters that the man, who is in his 60s, had been living in Pakistan for five to six years, mostly in Islamabad but had been traveling to Lahore.

No one has claimed responsibility for the abduction.

Voic of Amrica reported that kidnappings for ransom are fairly common in Pakistan, although foreigners aren't usually targets. Pakistani Taliban militants say they kidnapped a Swiss couple earlier this year in the southwest of the country. There has beem increased tensions between Islamabad and Washington follwing the May 2 raid and killing of Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden in the country.