Claims made of Taliban beheading of journalist

THE kidnapped translator for an Italian journalist was beheaded yesterday in southern Afghanistan, a purported spokesman for the Taliban said.

The report could not be independently confirmed.

Ajmal Nashqbandi, a freelance journalist and translator, was kidnapped with Daniele Mastrogiacomo of Italian daily La Repubblica and a driver in southern Helmand province on March 5. The driver was beheaded and Mastrogiacomo was released on March 19 in a much criticised swap for five Taliban militants.

The Taliban made a similar demand in return for the release of Nashqbandi.

“We asked for two Taliban commanders to be released in exchange for Ajmal Nashqbandi, but the government did not care for our demands, and today, at 3:05pm, we beheaded Ajmal in Garmsir district of Helmand province,” said Shahabuddin Atal, who claimed to be a spokesman for the regional Taliban commander Mullah Dadullah.

“When we demanded the exchange for the Italian journalist, the government released the prisoners, but for the Afghan journalist, the government did not care,” Atal said, but his claim could not be independently verified.

Interior Ministry spokesman Zemeri Bashary said police have no evidence yet of Nashqbandi’s killing. Another Taliban spokesman who frequently speaks with the media, Qari Yousef Ahmadi, said he was not aware of the killing but the local Tolo TV station reported Atal’s claim.