Price of Afghan prisoner exchange may be more hostages

Several kidnappings follow the trade of an Italian journalist for five jailed Taliban. Critics suggested that might happen.

By Henry Chu
LA Times

April 7, 2007

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN — The government's exchange of five Taliban prisoners for a kidnapped Italian journalist last month appears to have touched off a spate of abductions, as some critics had feared.

In the last two weeks, at least 13 Afghans and two French aid workers have been kidnapped in three incidents. The Taliban claims to be holding at least 10 of the hostages and has said it will free some only if more jailed Taliban are released.

Meanwhile, interpreter Ajmal Naqshbandi remains in captivity nearly five weeks after he and the Italian journalist, Daniele Mastrogiacomo, were abducted, with their driver, during a reporting trip in southern Afghanistan, where the Taliban's resurgence is strongest. The driver was beheaded.

Some critics said Afghan President Hamid Karzai's decision to swap five Taliban prisoners, two of them fairly senior members of the radical Islamist group, for Mastrogiacomo's freedom would only encourage more kidnappings. Others faulted Karzai for not securing the release of the interpreter as well.

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