The west world has been trying to tell the world that it has great philanthropic feelings behind stationing its troops in Afghanistan. It wants to ‘help’ the people of Afghanistan. However, a recent development made it very clear that life of Afghanis is actually worth peanuts. A westerner on the other hand is worth hundereds of lives. By releasing 5 terrorists in exchange of releasing an Italian journalist, NATO operations have literally taken a step backwards.
Daniele Mastrogiacomo, an Italian journalist working for the Italian newspaper La Repubblica was kidnapped by the Taliban on 5 March 2007 from the southern Afghan province of Helmand.
The Taliban claimed that they had arrested him as they believed he was a British spy. The driver and the translator travelling with the journalist were also taken captive.
The Taliban released a video on 14 March 2007 featuring the journalist proving that he was being held by militants. He also confirmed that two of his Afghani colleagues were also being held. He further appealed to the Italian government to work for his release. He was quoted by the Associated Press as saying,
I appeal to the government, and to the sensibility of Premier Romano Prodi so that he does what is possible ... to obtain our release
The Italian government soon after the release of the video issued statements calling for the release of the journalist. Prodi’s office said in a statement that the government was ‘united and determined to work for the freedom of the journalist as rapidly as possible.’ Prodi met with the Italian foreign and defense ministers about the video, it said.
Daniele was later released on 19 March after two weeks of captivity. The Italian government, the help of course, from top Afghan officials and an NGO run medical facility in Lashkar Gah reached negotiated with the Taliban releasing 5 terrorists as the price for the release of the Italian. Two were former spokesmen; three were military leaders, one of which was Dadullah`s incarcerated brother.
The cost of an Afghan costs nothing while that of a westerner is worth releasing five dangerous terrorists
The manner of Daniele’s release was criticised at great length by the US, Britain and other NATO countries. This is because the US and others have always maintained a policy where no deals or negotiations are reached with the Taliban, for the release of any prisoner. Does this present a dangerous trend in the way the western forces would now deal with Taliban?
The release represents a defeat for all participating ISAF countries and their soldiers who died serving, the Afghan security establishment, journalists working in Afghanistan and for Afghans themselves. The fact that such pains were taken to secure the release of a westerner while the Afghanis remained captive projects a deep blatant selfishness.
The translator is still in the hands of the Taliban and the pleas for his release voiced by the Afghans and various human rights organisations are going unheard. It reflects utter disregard for the life of an Aghani when the life of a westerner is so precious that 5 dangerous terrorists are released to secure his freedom. The message put across is quite clear. The west is beginning to appease the Taliban while simultaneously abandoning the people of Afghanistan.
via: CBC news
