KANDAHAR, 19 March 2007 — Afghanistan’s Taleban said yesterday they had handed an Italian journalist captured two weeks ago to tribal elders after two of their members were freed, but would take him back if a third was not released.
The Italian and Afghan governments would not confirm that veteran reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo was free, although an Afghan provincial security chief said he knew the Italian was to be freed after “very successful” negotiations.
Presidential spokesman Karim Rahimi would not confirm any exchange of captives was planned, but told AFP: “The government will use any possible means to secure his release.” A top Taleban commander had threatened to kill the Italian unless demands were met, including the withdrawal of Italian troops from Afghanistan and the release of certain Taleban in custody.
“We’ll consider him free when he’s safely in Italian hands,” an Italian Foreign Ministry spokesman in Rome said of the La Repubblica correspondent who was captured in Helmand province on March 4 with two Afghan colleagues. The Italian ambassador in Kabul, Ettore Francesco Sequi, also said he had no evidence of Mastrogiacomo’s release. “As of now he has not been released,” the embassy said.
Helmand security chief Isau Khan told AFP: “I’m aware that he was supposed to be freed within one or two days. But I’m not aware at this point if he has been freed. The negotiations have been very successful.” Taleban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi told AFP that Mastrogiacomo and his Afghan translator were handed to elders in Helmand after the government freed two members of the group, Latif Hakimi and Ustad Yasar who were captured in 2005.
The Afghan Interior Ministry and intelligence agency could not confirm there had been an exchange.
But the Taleban also wanted another man, spokesman Mohammad Hanif, arrested in October last year, to be released, Ahmadi said.
“Today, Hakimi and Yasar were released and we too handed over the journalist and his Afghan friend to the tribal elders. If Hanif is not released, we’ll take back the journalists,” Ahmadi said.
“Once Hanif is released, the elders can take the Italian anywhere he wishes to go — we’ll let him go.” Hakimi and Hanif have been Taleban spokesmen while Yasar was reportedly head of the group’s “information commission.” Mastrogiacomo was captured with two Afghans — a translator and a driver.
A media report Friday cited a purported spokesman for Taleban commander Mullah Dadullah as saying the driver was executed late Thursday after being found guilty of spying for foreign forces.
Ahmadi would not confirm this to AFP but did not mention the third Afghan yesterday.
Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D’Alema said Thursday his government was not in direct negotiations over the release, but there were “humanitarian sources which maintain the contacts.”
