Senior Taliban commander Mullah Dadullah demanded on Friday that Italian troops in Afghanistan be withdrawn and two arrested spokesmen for the Islamic militia be set free, for the release of an abducted Italian journalist. Shahabuddin Attal, claiming to be a spokesman for Mullah Dadullah, emailed the commanderÂ’s audio statement to Daily Times from an undisclosed location. Dadullah said in the statement that Italian newspaper La Republica reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo would only be set free when the TalibanÂ’s demands were met.
“Italy should set a timetable for the withdrawal of its troops, and the US forces should release two arrested Taliban spokesmen – Dr Muhammad Hanif and Lutfullah Hakimi,” said Mullah Dadullah, who is leading the Taliban insurgency against US and Afghan forces, in the audio message. The Italian journalist was last seen on Sunday, and the Taliban claimed they kidnapped him in Helmand province, where British forces are engaging the Taliban.
The Taliban accused Daniele and an Afghan companion, Ajmal, of “spying for the British forces”. “If these demands are not met in the next seven days, the Taliban will make no distinction between the Italian and the American forces,” said the Taliban commander.
Reuters adds: However, another Taliban spokesman told Reuters by satellite phone from an undisclosed location that the Taliban would free the Italian reporter if he could prove he was not a spy. Taliban spokesman Mullah Hayat Khan said on Friday the Taliban were still questioning Mastrogiacomo, and he could be released if he was found innocent.