WASHINGTON (REUTERS) — A Wall Street Journal editor appealed for the release of reporter Daniel Pearl, saying in an e-mail released on Tuesday that he was prepared to work with the group that says it kidnapped the journalist in Pakistan to protest U.S. treatment of Taliban and al Qaeda prisoners.
In an emotional message to the kidnappers, Managing Editor Paul Steiger said it was pointless to hold the journalist because he could not influence the U.S. global war on terrorism.
“I would like to work with you to bring about Danny’s safe release … you should know that Danny has a wife … she is also six months pregnant with their first child,” Steiger said in his message. “I would like you to know that she is greatly distressed over Danny’s situation. She hopes that you will come to understand that keeping Danny will not alter U.S. government policy or accomplish your goals.”
Pearl disappeared in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi last week. Colleagues said he was working on a story about alleged shoe-bomber Richard Reid, who is in custody in the United States to stand trial on charges he tried to blow up an airliner.
The United States said on Monday it was working with Pakistani authorities to find Pearl and that Secretary of State Colin Powell had discussed the case with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Pakistani police had said they were checking links with Islamic militants amid reports they suspected involvement by Harakat-ul-Mujahideen, a group listed as a foreign terrorist group by the United States.
He said the United States had not heard of a group calling itself “The National Movement for the Restoration of Pakistani Sovereignty” that sent e-mails to Pakistani and U.S. media Sunday saying it had Pearl.
In the e-mail, the group said it held Pearl in “inhumane” conditions to protest against U.S. treatment of Taliban and al Qaeda prisoners, accused him of working for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. It attached four photographs, including one with Pearl’s wrists chained and a pistol pointed at his head.
Steiger sent his letter on Monday to the e-mail address from which the message and the photos were sent. A copy of Steiger’s letter was distributed to the media.
Saying Pearl was assigned to cover the U.S. war on terrorism, Steiger said the reporter “has never worked for the CIA or the U.S. Government in any capacity.
“Danny Pearl has no ability to change the policies of the U.S. Government or the Government of Pakistan. Nor do I.
“Therefore, I would ask that you release Danny so that he may return home safe to his wife and soon-to-be-born child.”
Steiger asked the kidnappers to continue to correspond via e-mail to “coordinate Danny’s safe and timely release.”
