German Engineer, Afghan Hostages Released by Taliban In Swap

by PEP | October 10, 2007 at 06:06 am

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The surviving German engineer--his colleague was murdered--taken hostage by the Taliban in July is free, along with four Afghans. The swap for Taliban prisoners proves that there is profit in taking civilian hostages.

A German man and four Afghans seized by Taliban fighters have been exchanged for five Taliban prisoners, Taliban and Afghan government officials have said.

Mohammad Naeem, governor of Jaghato district in Wardak, said Rudolf Blechschmidt and four Afghans were freed on Wednesday at a government office in Maidan Wardak, the provincial capital.

"The German engineer along with four Afghan hostages were freed in exchange for five Taliban prisoners," Naeem told AFP news agency.