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CNN Live At Daybreak

Pakistani Police Suspect Sheik Omar Saeed in Pearl's Kidnapping

Aired February 06, 2002 - 06:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: As you just heard, Pakistani police say they are closing in on the kidnappers of Daniel Pearl.

For an update we go to CNN's Ben Wedeman who is live in Karachi -- Ben, what's the latest?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes Carol, it appears that the Pakistani authorities have identified, but not yet apprehended a man who they are describing as the ringleader of the group that is holding "Wall Street Journal" reporter Daniel Pearl. The man's name is Sheik Omar Saeed. He according to Pakistani sources has had extensive involvement in what are being described as terrorist activities in the disputed territory of Kashmir. He apparently was being held by the Indian authorities until the 31st of December 1999 when he was freed as part of a deal to end a hijacking of an Indian airlines flight that was hijacked to Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Now the key to his identification as the ringleader was the arrest of these three men you mentioned near -- just outside Karachi. In their possession was a computer on which was found two of the e- mails, which have been authenticated as coming from the kidnappers. Now, of course, that doesn't necessarily identify or tell anybody where Mr. Pearl is being held. The Pakistani authorities, however, do believe he is still alive.

Just a little while ago we spoke to a State Department official very closely involved in the investigation. He says the investigation or the search is going around the clock with what he described as dogged endurance. So they don't necessarily know where Mr. Pearl is, but they say they know -- they think they know who is holding him -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Of course there's all sorts of news flying around about this. In "The Washington Post" they quote a Pakistani official as saying we're very close to solving this case. In fact, it could be solved by today or tomorrow. Is that too hopeful?

WEDEMAN: I would say it is. Because it's not a question of solving the case. This is not a murder. This is a kidnapping. They have to find Mr. Pearl. Until they find Mr. Pearl, the case is not resolved; the case is not over. And certainly the officials we spoke to today are saying they're getting closer. They're making progress. They're very happy about the progress they've made, but they haven't found him yet -- Carol.

COSTELLO: And you say -- you say officials told you they think Daniel Pearl is still alive. Why do they think that?

WEDEMAN: Well basically it's a supposition. They haven't found a body. They haven't received an e-mail declaring that Mr. Pearl is dead and therefore, they're working upon the assumption that he is still alive. They're desperate to hear something directly from the kidnappers. They haven't heard anything since last Wednesday, but the fact that the kidnappers, they extended their deadline, and then that's long ago passed, and therefore, the fact that nobody has seen a body, and nobody has been told otherwise, they're assuming he's still alive -- but really nobody knows -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right, we hope he is. Thank you. Ben Wedeman reporting live for us this morning.

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