A Vancouver journalist, who was abducted last year in northern Pakistan, says in a videotape she's being held by the Taliban.
Beverly Giesbrecht was reportedly working on a documentary for the Al Jazeera network in November when she was taken at gunpoint along with her translator and guide in the Bannu district near the Afghan border.
She adopted the name Khadija Abdul Qahaar when she converted to Islam in 2002.
In the video, a visibly nervous Giesbrecht is flanked by masked gunmen armed with assault rifles.
With her voice trembling, she says she was kidnapped by the Taliban.
Giesbrecht also says she's not sure where she is being held but believes she's in the "American area" of the Afghan border region near what she calls the war zone.
Foreign Affairs says it is aware of the video and is "pursuing all appropriate channels" to assist in her release.
Last month, The English-language Pakistani News International reported that the kidnappers wanted $150,000 and the release of their colleagues from an Afghan jail in exchange for Giesbrecht's release.
The Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) is urging Prime Minister Stephen Harper to secure her release and that of missing Canadian reporter -- Amanda Lindhout -- abducted in Somalia six months ago.
With files from The Canadian Press
