Taliban Trade Pakistan’s Ambassador To Afghanistan, For 40 Terrorists
ISLAMABAD: Taliban militants freed Pakistan’s envoy to Afghanistan on Saturday, following the release of more than 40 of their own men by Pakistani authorities over the past few days, according to a senior security official.
Ambassador Tariq Azizuddin was released in South Waziristan, where he was being held by fighters loyal to Baitullah Mehsud, the leader of the Pakistani Taliban, the official said. The government has yet to give an official account of the circumstances surrounding the envoy’s release. “I can confirm he is released, and he is safe and sound,” foreign ministry spokesman Mohammed Sadiq said. Azizuddin, 56, went missing on February 11 along with his driver and a guard as he was traveling from the northwestern city of Peshawar to the Afghan-Pakistani border. He was on his way back to the Afghan capital, where he had been ambassador since 2005.
Over the past few days more than 40 Taliban fighters held captive by the authorities had been released, though it is uncertain whether the ambassador was exchanged for an specific militant, according to a senior security officer.
The officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the envoy was originally abducted by one of several kidnap gangs operating in and around the historic Khyber Pass, linking landlocked Afghanistan with Pakistan’s northwest. But he was subsequently passed on to the Pakistani Taliban, who moved him to South Waziristan, at the southeast end of the tribal belt, where he was held in the Mehsud tribal lands by men loyal to Baitullah Mehsud.
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When terrorists are captured, a military court should determine if they have an information value. If not, proceed with a military court and shoot them. I would favor shooting them on the spot.
I keep reading about released terrorists being caught or killed while involved in new attacks. This makes no sense.
They don’t take prisoners, why should we?
As long as there are prisoners, kidnapping will work against weak or supportive governments.
May 17th, 2008 at 1:11 pmWHAT?!?! 40???? That puke ain’t worth 5 terrorists…….. 6 tops.
May 17th, 2008 at 7:16 pmwhat a bunch of idiots
May 17th, 2008 at 9:14 pm