Islamabad: Stepping up hunt for an al-Qaeda militant, who masterminded the kidnapping of two Chinese nationals, Pakistani security forces today (Oct 15, 2004) scoured the tribal region bordering Afghanistan.

President Pervez Musharraf, while condoling the death of a Chinese captive during a rescue operation, vowed to track down those responsible for the hostage drama.

The five-day hostage crisis, which began on Saturday (Oct 9, 2004) last came to an end yesterday (Oct 14, 2004) leaving one of the two Chinese engineers and five kidnappers dead when Pakistani commandos stormed the hideout of the abductors in South Waziristan tribal agency after hearing gunshots from the building.

Abdullah Mehsud, an al-Qaeda militant and a former Guantanamo Bay prisoner, had ordered the abduction to force the Government to stop the military operations in the tribal region.

Pakistani Army has staged a series of raids in the region this year to flush out al-Qaeda and Taliban militants holed up there.

The security forces were trying hard to track down Mehsud, who was hiding in mountains near Afghan border while his men held the Chinese captive, officials said.

The Government has also stepped up security for the Chinese nationals working in different projects in Pakistan following the hostage drama.

Hours after the hostage crisis ended, Musharraf vowed that the mastermind behind the episode would be meted out severe punishment.