Guardian newspaper’s kidnapped reporter was released from hostage in Afghanistan along with two Afghan journalists, International Press Institute told International Eurasian Press Fund, APA reports. Iraqi journalist Ghaith Abdul-Ahad working for Britain’s Guardian newspaper and his two Afghan colleagues were held hostage for six days in a north-east province of Afghanistan. The journalist’s last contact with his newspaper was on December 9 and three days later the newspaper obtained information about kidnapping if the three journalists.
Reports on the kidnapping had been kept quiet to help ensure the safe release of the reporters. Their families and relevant organizations of the United Kingdom and Afghanistan were informed about the incident. Names of the Afghan journalists were not publicized for their security.
Guradian said the three journalists were captured by the militants last week when they planned to make interviews in the mountainous area of Afghanistan bordering with Pakistan’s North-West Frontier Province and known as a stronghold of Taliban and Arab fighters, as well as different groups like Hezb-e-Islami and criminals.