| | Italian journalist released Pajhwok
03/19/2007
By Danish Karokhel
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KABUL - Kidnapped Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo and his guide Ajmal were set free by Taliban after 15 days of captivity on Monday.
Sources privy to the clandestine deal told Pajhwok Afghan News the journalist was handed over to Italian officials in the Hazarjuft district of the southern Helmand province at 5:10pm (local time).
Confirming the release of the Italian journalist, Taliban commander Dadullah said the hostage was set free in exchange for the release of five Taliban prisoners. Dadullah's audio-taped statement was provided to Pajhwok Afghan News by his spokesman Shabuddin Atal.
He said the Taliban leaders released in exchange for the Italian journalist included Ustad Yasir (head of Taliban's cultural wing), Mufti Latifullah Hakimi (former spokesman), Mansoor Ahmad (Dadullah's brother) and two commanders Hamdullah and Abdul Ghaffar.
Dadullah said they had demanded another Taliban spokesman Dr Hanif from the government, but he was not handed over. In his place, they released his (Dadullah's) brother Mansoor Ahmad, said the commander.
He said elders from Helmand province remained active in finalising the deal between the Taliban and the government.
Raising accusing finger at the role of some media organisations, Dadullah said they would target journalists if the media 'continued to show partiality'. However, he said, they would not harm them if they maintain impartiality.
The Afghan guide was not released along with the Italian hostage and Taliban said they wanted a separate deal for his release.
Speaking to Pajhwok Afghan News over the telephone, Dadullah's spokesman Shahabuddin Atal said no one had so far demanded body of the Afghan driver Sayed Agha.
Meanwhile, negotiators in Helmand also confirmed the release of the Italian journalist.
Earlier, negotiations hit snags when the hostage takers forwarded fresh demands in exchange for the release of the 52-year-old La Republica reporter and his Afghan guide.
Taliban had demanded the release of their two leaders Ustad Yasir and Mufti Latifullah Hakimi. The two were moved from Kabul to Helmand province for handing over to the negotiators, but the militants demanded release of some more members at the eleventh hour, which delayed the liberation of the hostage for another 24 hours.
On Sunday, some reports suggested the two sides had already handed over the hostages and the prisoners to the middlemen in Helmand, who were busy fine tuning and winding up the matter.
However, Shahabuddin Atal, spokesman for Taliban commander Mulla Dadullah, denied the reports. In an audio-taped message, conveyed to Pajhwok Afghan News over the telephone, Dadullah said he doubted the government's sincerity and opted to keep the hostages in their custody.
Reporter of the Rome-based La Republica daily newspaper, the 52-year-old Karachi-born journalist was kidnapped along with his two Afghan interpreters in the lawless province of Helmand on March 4.
The two Afghans, Ajmal and Sayed Agha, were traveling with him as guide and driver respectively. Taliban say they have killed the driver Sayed Agha after founding him guilty of spying for the foreign troops.
In an audio-taped message, received to Pajhwok Afghan News on Thursday, the Italian journalist asked for immediate help, which triggered hectic efforts to save his life.
Daniele Mastrogiacomo is the third Italian citizen kidnapped in Afghanistan since 2005. The other two were photojournalist Gabriele Torsello (kidnapped in Helmand), and aid worker Clementina Cantoni (kidnapped in Kabul). The two were released by their captors after negotiations with the government.
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