President Hamid Karzai has asked relevant authorities to exchange the body of a slain top Taliban commander for the five Afghan health workers kidnapped by the militants in the country’s south.
The order comes after a series of efforts to release the abducted persons failed.
As per the decision, the body of Mullah Dadullah, killed last month in southern Afghanistan, would be exchanged for a doctor, three nurses and a driver kidnapped on March 27. Mullah Dadullah, a one-legged militant who organized Taliban suicide attacks and beheadings was the second top tier Taliban field commander to be executed in six months in a U.S.-led military operation in Helmand province. However, where he is buried remains a secret.
The Taliban had earlier proposed to release their captives if Dadullah’s body is given to them in exchange. Dadullah’ brother Dadullah Mansoor, who heads the militant operations in southern Afghanistan made the demand on Taliban’s behalf.
Suspected Taliban militants in Kandahar’s Zhari district took the health workers hostage, when they were administering vaccines and other treatment at a refugee camp.
It was not immediately clear when the swap would be made.
All those activists-helping rebuild Afghanistan after years of insurgency are at a continuous risk. Kidnappings and abductions of such officials are not new in the devastated land. Taliban had vowed to eliminate each and every person involved in uplift of the Afghan society.
Via:Msnbc
