Victim's brother dashes to Pakistan

The New Zealand-based brother of a man kidnapped in Pakistan has flown there as police continue to search for him.

Ian Dale, a nurse at Waikato Hospital, is understood to have been flown over by the Red Cross as police there work to find his brother, British nurse Khalil Dale, 60.

Khalil Dale - also known as Ken Dale - was abducted by a group of masked men in the northwest province of Baluchistan.

Last night a spokeswoman for the Waikato District Health Board confirmed that Ian Dale was a staff member.

She said he was being supported fully during this time, and would be released on full pay.

A spokeswoman for the New Zealand Red Cross said the matter was being handled by the International Red Cross.

"We're not involved in it. We're involved to the point where if they need us, we're there. But it's actually International Red Cross that are doing it."

Pakistani media say Khalil Dale had been travelling home with at least two other people when he was set on by a group of seven or eight men, who blocked his vehicle.

Mr Dale was then held at gunpoint and forced into the group's vehicle.

Pakistani police said they had identified the group involved and made a number of arrests.

Originally from Britain, Mr Dale had been based in the area since February last year.

He was there as an aid worker for the International Committee of the Red Cross and was posted to Pakistan under a project to provide training as well as equipment to local hospitals.