Taliban uses kidnapping to force Afghan gov't to free insurgents
Taliban insurgents fighting with the Afghan government and the NATO troops in Afghanistan have apparently adopted kidnapping as a tool to force Afghan authorities to free their "comrades".
The militias in their latest move of kidnapping have abducted 10 aid workers and doctors including two French nationals over the past two weeks to put pressure on the government to set free more militants' leaders.
A week earlier the militants took away five Afghan health workers including a doctor, three nurses and their driver in Taliban former stronghold Kandahar just week after the release of Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo in the neighboring Helmand province.
Taliban militants set free the reporter of La Republica newspaper after 15 days in captivity in exchange for five Taliban leaders including the outfit's two former spokesmen.
However, the militant group beheaded Mastrogiacomo's Afghan interpreter Ajmal Naqshbandi on Sunday on charge of spying for NATO troops and government's refusal to negotiate with Taliban.
The movement's key commander in south Afghanistan Mullah Dadullah has vowed to capture more soft targets and use them for the release of militants from government custody.
Claiming responsibility for the abduction of the five ill-fated health workers including medical practitioner Abdul Khalil as well as the French nationals, a man Shahabudin Atal who claims to speak for Taliban commander Mullah Dadullah has warned to execute doctor Khalil if government fails to meet their demand for the release of Taliban fighters.
Earlier, another Taliban commander in Kandahar province Mullah Toor Jan claimed that five health workers were with the militants and the Taliban leadership would not set them free unless the government releases some of their "comrades" languishing in government custody.
President Karzai's spokesman Mohammad Karim Rahimi described the exchange of five militants with Mr Mastrogiacomo as exceptional step for the friendship with Italy and adding such deal would not be repeated.
On the other hand, some Afghans criticizing government for securing the release of Daniele, by saying that President Karzai made happy his foreign friends while did little to ensure the safety of his citizen Ajmal Naqshbandi.
Circles opposing President Karzai at home said releasing few militants could have protected Ajmal's life while supporters are of the view that swapping militants with the late Ajmal would have encouraged the out to more hostages.
In order to mount pressure on the government to accept their demand, the Taliban insurgents beheaded the driver of Italian journalist Mastrogiacomo just two days after their abduction early last month and promoted both Afghan and Italian government to spare no effort for journalist's safe release.
Like Afghan government, both the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) have ruled out the possibility of holding negotiations with the Taliban on hostage issues.
The ISAF policy is not to negotiate with terrorists, ISAF spokesperson Maria Carl maintained while her comment was sought towards possible meeting of Taliban demand for the release of two French nationals.
The UN position on prisoner exchange is very clear. We do not support any exchange and negotiations with terrorists, UNAMA spokesman Aleem Siddique stressed.
Continued attacking soft targets or abducting them by Taliban insurgents and government's refusal to negotiate would put in danger the lives of more innocent civilians affiliated with aid agencies and media outlets serving particularly in Afghanistan's south region where hundreds of militants are said to have holed up.
Source: Xinhua
posted on 2007-04-11 10:09
徐星海 阅读(447)
评论(8) 编辑 收藏 
网摘收藏