News
Saturday, July 02, 2011
‘Huge ransom paid in Pakistan’ for Western hostages
KABUL: New details have emerged of how two Western hostages in Afghanistan were freed in exchange for a hefty ransom paid in Pakistan and the release of two brothers from a mafia-style, Taliban-linked group.
French journalists Herve Ghesquiere and Stephane Taponier, whose 18-month ordeal made them the longest-held Western hostages in Afghanistan, were released in a painstakingly brokered deal, say experts and Taliban sources. The French government denied paying any ransom, but Western experts say cash for hostages is routine policy in Europe and interpret the public remarks merely as an attempt to discourage future hostage taking.
The Taliban announced from their fiefdom in southern Afghanistan that there was a prisoner swap for reporter Ghesquiere and cameraman Taponier, but sources close to the case say it was only ever about the money. “A ransom was paid – an enormous amount – millions of dollars. The money was handed over in Pakistan,” a Taliban member close to central command told AFP on condition of anonymity.
The kidnappers were identified as loyalists of Qari Baryal, one of the main Taliban leaders in Kapisa province where the Frenchmen were kidnapped on December 30, 2009, and also seen as close to criminals. In Paris, an official who dealt with the crisis sought to play down talk of a multi-million dollar ransom, but said “apparently hundreds of thousands of euros rather than millions” had exchanged hands.
According to several Taliban sources contacted by AFP, at least two commanders in the Qari Baryal group, identified as brothers Noor Ullah and Abdullah Haq, were released. One of these sources said 15 other Taliban fighters from different areas were also released in exchange for the two journalists. A number of Western hostage takings have ended with wads of cash being handed over, say foreign and Afghan officials. One source close to the Taliban told AFP that the money was handed over in the infamous Karkhano smugglers market on the edge of Peshawar. afp
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk