'Abandoned' American abducted in Pak calls US for help

An American development worker, who was kidnapped in Pakistan by Al-Qaeda more than two years ago, has appealed to President Barack Obama to negotiate his release, saying he feels "totally abandoned and forgotten".

The video along with a letter from 72-year-old Warren Weinstein, the country director in Pakistan for a US-based firm, JE Austin Associates, was emailed anonymously to reporters in Pakistan, News24 reports.

However, the authenticity of the mail could not be independently verified.

Weinsteina came to Pakistan nine years ago for the U.S-based firm, which advised a range of Pakistani business and government sectors, but was abducted from his house in the eastern city of Lahore in August 2011.

Al-Qaeda has, meanwhile, said they would release Weinstein only if the US halted airstrikes in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen and has also demanded the release of all Al-Qaeda and Taliban suspects around the world.

The White House has called for Weinstein's immediate release, but has said it won't negotiate with Al-Qaeda.