Kidnapped Canadian missing for months: report

More recently in late 2009, he journeyed to Afghanistan and Pakistan, where he befriended aid workers for Comprehensive Disaster Relief Services who invited him to Kashmir to witness the lingering impact of the 2005 quake. Rutherford described several of his travels on social media websites, including plans for a trip to Kabul from October 23 to November 6, 2010. — Photo on file OTTAWA: A Canadian tourist reported kidnapped in Afghanistan this week actually went missing three months ago, local media said Monday, citing his friends. Colin Rutherford, a math and physics graduate of Chinese-Scottish ancestry, born in 1984, went missing in Afghanistan "after travelling to the country as a tourist," said Canada's foreign affairs department. In a statement published Sunday on an Internet site, a Taliban group said it had captured the Canadian citizen in the province of Ghazni, accusing him of being a spy sent to discover the insurgent group's hideouts. The daily Globe and Mail, however, said Canadian officials began investigating his disappearance three months ago. It is unclear why his capture was only announced now. Public broadcaster CBC said a Taliban spokesman claimed to have documents taken from Rutherford proving he was a secret agent. A Taliban spokesman, identified as Zabihullah, said in the statement on Sunday that the group planned to publish a video of the hostage. He also said contact had been made with an "official delegation" from the Canadian government, but had received "no positive" reply to its demands. The Globe and Mail cited his friends as saying Rutherford was undecided about his career path and "was just trying to explore." He grew up in Singapore and also lived in Hong Kong and Kuwait. As well, he traveled to Italy, Greece, Croatia and Bulgaria in 2008 with his father, who is now deceased. His mother now lives in Toronto. More recently in late 2009, he journeyed to Afghanistan and Pakistan, where he befriended aid workers for Comprehensive Disaster Relief Services who invited him to Kashmir to witness the lingering impact of the 2005 quake. Rutherford described several of his travels on social media websites, including plans for a trip to Kabul from October 23 to November 6, 2010. In one posting, he described drinking "very tasty" tea at a roadside stop between Islamabad and Attock fort in northwest Pakistan.