The beheading of Polish geologist Piotr Stanczak by the Taliban in Pakistan last February came as a “shock” to the government, says a report into the incident by Poland’s Foreign Ministry.

The Foreign Ministry has released a full report on the killing of Stanczak in Pakistan and on efforts made to recover his body, which was detained by the Taliban for weeks after his death.

Probably, the insurgents decided to use the execution of the Pole to prove to the Pakistani government how determined they are to gain control of the North West Frontier province, close to the border with Afghanistan.

According to the report, the Foreign Ministry had a lot of evidence that Stanczak, who was kidnapped last September when Taliban forces attacked his vehicle and killed his Pakistani driver and bodyguard, would be freed, as in numerous cases before hand.

The report concludes that the “unexpected and brutal execution” of Stanczak on 28 September, “was the result of several unfortunate coincidences.”

Highlighted in the report were actions taken at many levels to secure his release, by Polish and Pakistani diplomats, special services in both countries and members of various international organizations.

The Taliban demanded certain conditions for the release of the Pole, including ransom money and political demands, all of which were rebuffed by the Pakistani government.

Stanczak was eventually beheaded and a video of the murder released.

Shortly after the murder, Islamabad agreed a truce within the Swat Valley in an attempt to stabilise the area. But this week, Pakistani forces pounded Taliban positions and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, on a visit to Washington, pledged that: "This is an offensive -- this is war. If they kill our soldiers, then we do the same." (jg/pg)