Pakistan puts bounty on militant

The US released Mehsud from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in March

Pakistani authorities have announced a five million rupee ($83,000) reward for help in the arrest of a militant wanted for kidnapping two Chinese engineers.

Ex-Guantanamo Bay detainee Abdullah Mehsud, 29, masterminded October's abduction in which one engineer died.

The reward was announced after a meeting of military officials and Mehsud tribesmen in the South Waziristan region on Thursday.

Pakistan began major operations against militants in the region in March.

The man has committed heinous crimes and needs to be brought to justice. We want him dead or alive Senior military officer Profile: Abdullah Mehsud

Security forces believe hundreds of foreign militants and local tribesmen supporting them are hiding out in the rugged tribal region that borders Afghanistan.

The reward announcement, made by the corps commander of North-West Frontier Province, Lt-Gen Safdar Hussain, coincided with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's official visit to China.

Speaking of Mehsud, a senior military officer told the Reuters news agency on Friday: "The man has committed heinous crimes and needs to be brought to justice. We want him dead or alive."

The abduction was highly embarrassing for Pakistan as China is a close ally and large investor.

Manhunt

Pakistan vowed to track down Mehsud after one of the two hostages, who were working on a dam project in South Waziristan, died in a rescue attempt by Pakistani forces.

Five kidnappers were killed. Mehsud directed the kidnapping from another location.

Analysts said the kidnapping was an attempt to secure the release of al-Qaeda militants held during army operations in South Waziristan.

The one-legged Mehsud has since resisted any offer to give himself up to the authorities and has eluded a huge manhunt.

Mehsud was freed from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in March.