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Ajmal kidnapped in Helmand
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Ajmal, a LS member and fixer in Afghanistan, is reported kidnapped along with an British journalist…
by
pat hattori
at
Tue Mar 06 12:15:30 UTC 2007
(ed. Mar 12 2008)
Mechelen,
Belgium
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Lets hope he’s soon released
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OI!....that’s terrible news….:(((...
my prayers go out to Ajmal and the journalist and both their families….hopefully upon the high-riding wind….
bob
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any news yet? i havent noticed any if came out
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Damn, now BBC’s Gaza corresspondent is missing too.
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latest news from RSF is that Ajmal, Ghulam Haidar, and La Repubblica correspondent Daniele Mastrogiacomo are said to be still held by Taliban. a Taliban military chief reportedly accused the three men of spying and warned that Mastrogiacomo would be killed in a week unless Italian troops are withdrawn from Afghanistan….
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=21217
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I was with Daniele Mastrogiacomo a couple of months ago on a story, a great guy with a ton of experience.
My thoughts are with him and the other kidnap victims.
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Subject: UN’S AFGHANISTAN MISSION URGES RELEASE OF JOURNALIST DANIELE MASTROGIACOMO AND CREWDate: Sat, 17 Mar 2007 12:01:23 -0400
UN’S AFGHANISTAN MISSION URGES RELEASE OF JOURNALIST DANIELE MASTROGIACOMO AND CREW
New York, Mar 17 2007 12:00PM
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) today joined a growing chorus of official calls for the release of journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo and his Afghan colleagues.
A correspondent for the Italian daily “La Repubblica,” Mr. Mastrogiacomo was reportedly taken captive by the Taliban. In a statement on behalf of UNAMA, spokesman Adrian Edwards “calls upon those holding him to take this opportunity to show their humanity by immediately releasing him along with his detained Afghan colleagues.”
Mr. Edwards paid tribute to Mr. Mastrogiacomo as “a well-known journalist whose sympathies for the people of Afghanistan should be beyond doubt to anyone.”
The Italian writer “has displayed compassion for the poor and suffering, communicating their voices to the outside world,” the spokesman said.
“We know of no reason whatsoever for him to be under anyone’s suspicion.
In Afghanistan, as elsewhere, journalists have a job to find and report on the truth. We ask that the rights of journalists to go about their work free from interference or harm be recognized and respected by all.”
On 12 March, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, Ambeyi Ligabo, also issued a call for the immediate release of Mr. Mastrogiacomo and his crew.
2007-03-17 00:00:00.000
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CPJ News Alert
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
“In Afghanistan, new demands for abducted journalist
after driver was killed”
“NEW YORK, March 16, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by a report that kidnappers of La Repubblica reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo have killed his Afghan driver and made additional demands for his release.
According to the Pajhwok Afghan News agency, the country’s largest independent wire service, Mastrogiacomo’s driver Sayed Agha was killed for “spying for foreign troops.” Pajhwok attributed the information to Taliban spokesman Shahbuddin Atal, who added that negotiations with Italian officials were continuing for the release of the journalist and his local guide, referred to only as Ajmal.
The Taliban’s latest demand, according to Pajhwok, is for the release of six men—Atal did not specify their names—in return for Mastrogiacomo and Ajmal. The Taliban, speaking to journalists through several spokesmen, have offered different versions of Mastrogiacomo’s captivity and prospects for release. They have said they are investigating whether the reporter was a spy; they have called for the withdrawal of Italian troops operating with NATO forces in the country; and they offered to exchange Mastrogiacomo for two Taliban members detained by Afghan authorities.
“We call on those holding our colleague Daniele Mastrogiacomo and his assistant Ajmal to release them immediately. We express our condolences to the family of Sayed Agha,” said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. “Journalists cannot be used as pawns to be traded for political goals. Their role must be respected by all sides in the conflict.”
Yesterday, the Taliban released audio and video recordings of Mastrogiacomo’s appeals for the Italian government to negotiate his release. Pajhwok reported that Mastrogiacomo pleaded in English, “Please do something as they have only two days.” The agency identified Taliban leader Mulla Dadullah who said the group has set a two-day deadline to start negotiations with the Italian government. Click here for Pajhwok’s report of the recording.
At the same time yesterday, Italian aid group Emergency received a video that showed Mastrogiacomo asking, “…the Italian government and Mr. President Romano Prodi . . . to do everything in their power, to act with all their means in order to obtain our freedom as soon as possible.” La Repubblica translated Mastrogiacomo’s full statement in English;
Google Video’s copy of the statement is here
Mastrogiacomo, a journalist with 27 years of experience, was on assignment for the La Repubblica, when he and the two Afghans were seized in the southern province of Helmand amidst the heaviest round of fighting between U.S., NATO, and Taliban forces since the U.S.-led invasion of 2001. Mastrogiacomo last contacted his editors on March 4.”
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In this moment in Rome there’s held the “Marathon of Rome”, dedicated to Daniele Mastrogiacomo and his crew. Athlets of 74 countires are running with them on their minds, the city and the whole country is with them in their thoughts. Just hoping it helps in some way.
Rome Marathon
by
eva m k
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18 Mar 2007 10:03
(ed. Mar 18 2007)
| Tuscany,
Italy
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I do too, Emk. Thanks for posting that. Wow, over 15,000 people running with that dedication in mind. The Rome Marathon will surely give hope to all family, friends and colleagues concerned and affected by such a cruel and opportunistic crime. Prayers for Ajmal and Mr. Mastrogiacomo and am hoping against hope that it’s not really true what Taliban spokesman Atal has reported to Pajhwok concerning the murder of driver Sayed Agha. ...How sad and horrible for his father and family.
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Latest update that I could find:
Here is the lower half of an AP article on MSNBC.com entitled: “Child killed in blast targeting Canadian troops
Suicide attack in southern Afghanistan inures 4, including NATO soldier” that gives news, but no details, that there may be according to Premier Prodi, a development today.
MSNBC
AP
Updated: 9:56 p.m. MT March 17, 2007
Pleas made for Italian journalist
“Also Saturday, the United Nations mission in Afghanistan said that those holding a kidnapped Italian reporter and his two Afghan colleagues should show their humanity by freeing them.
Daniele Mastrogiacomo, 52, a reporter for Italian daily La Repubblica was kidnapped along with two Afghans traveling with him on March 5 in the Nad Ali district of southern Helmand province. Taliban insurgents have claimed responsibility.
“Mastrogiacomo is a well known journalist whose sympathies for the people of Afghanistan should be beyond doubt to anyone,” the U.N. mission in Afghanistan said in a statement.
FREE VIDEO/Hostage in Afghanistan pleads for release [disregard any opening advertisement] March 15: Italian reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo, kidnapped in Afghanistan last week, pleads for his release. MSNBC.com’s Dara Brown reports.
Mastrogiacomo appeared in a video shown on Italian television Wednesday, appealing to Italian Premier Romano Prodi to work for his release. Prodi said that no efforts will be spared.
“I’m following the situation as it unfolds, second by second,” Prodi told reporters Saturday. He added that there could be a development Sunday but did not elaborate.
Prodi said he had spoken with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, the Italian ambassador to Afghanistan and Gino Strada, founder of the Italian-based NGO Emergency, which has been working to help win Mastrogiacomo’s release.
Prodi spokesman Silvio Sircana said an Italian state plane was in Kabul “because obviously it could help if we hear the good news we’re all hoping to hear, but also it’s been sent to help move around the people who have been working on the case.”
Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D’Alema said Thursday that Italy was not negotiating with the Taliban, but added that humanitarian groups were in contact with them, “and the government is doing all it can with the necessary discretion.”
Mastrogiacomo, a father of two, had been on assignment in Kandahar, the Taliban’s former stronghold in southern Afghanistan, when his newspaper lost contact with him on March 4.”
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“We call on those holding our colleague Daniele Mastrogiacomo and his assistant Ajmal to release them immediately. We express our condolences to the family of Sayed Agha,” said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. “Journalists cannot be used as pawns to be traded for political goals. Their role must be respected by all sides in the conflict.”
The Committee to Protect Journalists NEW YORK, March 16, 2007, CPJ News Alert 2007
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VIDEO [emk> video shows Rome Marathon images at the very end]
“There have been positive signs in Afghanistan over the Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo, kidnapped by the Taliban two weeks ago….”
EuroNews article
19 March 2007, 15 hours ago
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What great news! (: Welcome home Ajmal and Daniele.
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Seems Ajmal is still not free, that’s what Italian news keep telling (on the opposite to yesterdayìs news). Seems they are not sure if he’s still being held by the Taliban or if he’s been handed over with Mastrogiacomo to the Afghan group, but held back when Mastrogiacomo has been freed.
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can everyone who knows or who has worked with Ajmal please do two things: Call your agencies and clients and ask them to please call the Afghan embassy closest to them and inquire about the negotiations to free him. and 2) Do the same yourself. The big concern here is that the white guy is free and the government might not deal for a local. Unless pressure is brought to bear on them. Please give them a stern “we are watching how this turns out.” These guys take incredible risks for us, we owe them (and particularly a guy like Ajmal) our best effort in this case.
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CPJ calls for release of Afghan journalist Ajmal Naskhbandi
“New York, March 20, 2007— The Committee to Protect Journalists is greatly concerned about Afghan freelance journalist Ajmal Naskhbandi, who was kidnapped over two weeks ago while acting as La Repubblica reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo’s translator.
“We call on the Afghan government to do everything in its power to secure the release of our colleague Ajmal Naskhbandi,” said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. “All parties involved must ensure Ajmal’s immediate safe return.”
Mastrogiacomo, who was freed yesterday, said Ajmal and their Afghan driver Sayed Agha were held together after Taliban forces abducted them from Helmand province on March 5. While Agha was brutally killed, Mastrogiacomo said he last saw Ajmal, who worked as a reporter mainly for Japanese papers and translated frequently for journalists and aid groups, as the two were unchained in preparation for release.
“The Taliban want to make a separate arrangement with the Afghan government for Ajmal’s release,” Pajhwok Afghjhan News reporter Danish Karokhel told CPJ. “I am worried. The rest of the world is happy, but we cannot forget about Afghan journalists.”
La Repubblica confirmed that Mastrogiacomo had been released in exchange for five Taliban prisoners held by the Afghan government.”
http://cpj.org/news/2007/asia/afghan20mar07na.html
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SEND A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR JOURNALIST AND LS MEMBER, AJMAL NAQESHBANDI
CONTACT CPJ with your concerns for the release of Afghan journalist Ajmal Naqeshbandi:
info@cpj.org 330 7th Avenue • 11th Floor • New York NY • 10001 • Tel. 212-465-1004 • Fax 212-465-9568
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PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF AND WHEN THERE IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO HELP IN THE PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT/EMAIL/LETTER TO HELP SECURE AJMAL’S RELEASE!.....
I AM WRITING AN EMAIL NOW TO CPJ, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING FURTHER THAN I CAN DO…..
my, marina and dima’s thoughts and prayers are with him and his family and breathe and hope for his release…...
bob
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letter to cpj send…...............
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Thanks so much, Bob. I believe that all our actions, thoughts and prayers mean a lot to Ajmal and his family. I will post if I see anything new that may help Ajmal through individuals who don’t know him personally. Those who do know Ajmal personally need especially to get in touch with Teru, Mitch, Bob Dietz at CPJ, etc…. SEE Mitch’s and Teru’s post above and below.
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For those of us who don’t know or haven’t worked with Ajmal, a short email will let Joel Simon and Bob Dietz know that we are 100% behind their efforts to get Ajmal safely released as soon as possible.
That contact info again is:
CONTACT CPJ with your concerns for the release of Afghan JOURNALIST Ajmal Naskhbandi:
info@cpj.org
330 7th Avenue • 11th Floor • New York NY • 10001 • Tel. 212-465-1004 • Fax 212-465-9568
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i hope the rest follow suit…it took all of 2 minutes to type/send CPJ the email…..and above all, my thoughts and hopes are with him….
keep me posted Gayle…
thanks
bob
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I will, Bob. Thanks!
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Sample Letter/Email/Donation in Ajmal’s name to CPJ at info@cpj.org
330 7th Avenue • 11th Floor • New York NY • 10001 • Tel. 212-465-1004 • Fax 212-465-9568
SUBJECT: AJMAL NAQSHBANDI
Dear Mr. Simon,
Please know that we in the media are 100% behind CPJ’s efforts to help free journalist Ajmal Naqshbandi.
Ajmal is a member of Lightstalkers and LS members have a thread for him concerning his release that LS member Pat Hattori started. We are anxious to see Ajmal returned to safety as soon as possible and we will keep posted to your site for a petition to sign and/or letters to write for Ajmal. We hope that Ajmal will be released soon.
LS Thread URL: http://www.lightstalkers.org/ajmal_kidnapped_in_helmand
Thank you very much for your help.
Sincerely,
___
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Please feel free to sign and email (copy, paste, sign, send) or send with donation the above Sample Letter if you do not have the time to compose. Remember to use the heading “SUBJECT: AJMAL NAQSHBANDI” to get through the spam and 3rd class mail, etc.
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Hi all. I recieved a call from CPJ today, and they would especially like to connect with as many journalists as possible who have worked with Ajmal in the past, as well as their news organizations. That includes many of us here – Ajmal has been a partner and friend to myself, christian parenti, balazs gardi, stephanie sinclair, and mitch prothero to name a few – anyone else who has worked with him, please contact me, or Bob Deitz at CPJ.
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March 20, 2007 Italian reporter heads home after Afghan protests
By Abdul Qodous
LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan (Reuters) – An Italian
journalist, freed after being held hostage, left
Afghanistan for home on Tuesday after facing protests
from relatives and friends of his driver who was
beheaded by the Taliban kidnappers.
La Repubblica reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo left
Kabul for Rome around 8 p.m. (1530 GMT) in an Italian
government aircraft, Italy’s ambassador to
Afghanistan, Ettore Francesco Sequi, told Reuters.
La Repubblica newspaper reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo
speaks to friends after his release from captivity in
Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan March 20, 2007.
(REUTERS/PeaceReporter.net/Handout)
The reporter had earlier been expected to stop over in
the Afghan capital and address a news conference. But
he was brought from the southern town of Lashkar Gah
and flown straight out of Kabul airport, without any
reason being given.
Mastrogiacomo’s departure marked the end of a dramatic
day in which protesters blockaded an Afghan hospital
where he was staying, demanding details of the death
of his driver, Syed Agha.
More than 200 relatives and friends of Agha protested
outside the Italian-run emergency hospital in Lashkar
Gah, the capital of southern Helmand province,
demanding to talk with the Italian, who was kidnapped
by the Taliban two weeks ago.
His translator, Ajmal Nakshbandi, is still being held.
Mastrogiacomo, accused by the Taliban of spying for
British troops, described in his paper how he was
forced to watch Agha be killed.
“I can still see it now,” he said. “I get off my
knees. Four young men grab the driver and shove his
face into the sand. They cut his throat and continue
until they have cut his whole head.
“He is not able to make a gasp. They clean the knife
on his tunic. They tie his severed head to his body.
They bring it to the river and let it go.”
Agha was found guilty by a Taliban court of spying and
was killed on Thursday, the Taliban say.
Mastrogiacomo, Agha and the translator were kidnapped
two weeks ago in the wild Helmand province about the
same time NATO launched its biggest offensive against
the Taliban and local drug barons.
DEAL FOR FREEDOM
The main Afghan journalists’ rights association
appealed for the translator’s release.
“Our message is clear. We are very much concerned
about his life and his future,” spokesman Halim Fedaye
told reporters.
In his article, Pakistani-born Mastrogiacomo did not
explain why he was in a place most foreign journalists
regard as too dangerous to visit, what he was doing to
free his translator or what compensation would be
offered to Agha’s family.
The Taliban say they freed him after the Afghan
government handed over four of five insurgent leaders,
including the brother of military commander Mullah
Dadullah.
A spokesman for President Hamid Karzai said a deal had
been struck, but would not give any details.
“The president … had instructed security authorities
to find out any possible way for the release of the
Italian journalist in recognition for the friendship
with Italy and its cooperation with Afghanistan,” he
told reporters. “A series of demands were made and
they were met to some extent.”
In Italy, there was concern the government had paid
too high a price.
“The government sold out,” ran the front-page headline
in the right-wing Libero newspaper. “Reporter released
in exchange for 5 Taliban,” said leading daily
Corriere della Sera.
La Stampa daily questioned whether the negotiations to
free the La Repubblica journalist were hypocritical,
given Rome had 1,900 peacekeepers in Afghanistan meant
to help NATO secure the country after the U.S.-led
overthrow of the Taliban in 2001.
“If this is the just price chosen to pay to save the
life of Mastrogiacomo, it’s up to (the government) to
show Italy is still able to continue fulfilling its
role in Afghanistan without becoming the weak link in
the international alliance.”
Amid the protest in Lashkar Gah, Afghan security
personnel arrested the head of the emergency hospital,
but did not say why.
The hospital had also been involved in negotiations to
free another Italian reporter, Gabriele Torsello, late
last year.
(Additional reporting by Y.P. Rajesh and Syed
Salahuddin in Kabul and Rome bureau)
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Quote from Teru Kuwayama post above: “Hi all. I received a call from CPJ today, and they would especially like to connect with as many journalists as possible who have worked with Ajmal in the past, as well as their news organizations. That includes many of us here – Ajmal has been a partner and friend to myself, christian parenti, balazs gardi, stephanie sinclair, and mitch prothero to name a few – anyone else who has worked with him, please contact me, or Bob Dietz at CPJ.”
Bob Dietz Asia
Program Coordinator
Committee to Protect Journalists
330 Seventh Ave, 11th floor New York, NY 10001 +1 212 465 1004 ext 140
www.cpj.org
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I have sent a follow-up email to CPJ this morning letting them know that i’ll pass along the word to anyone i know here and at LS…..
let’s get this huge global community working….
bob
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Latest news, Italian TG1:
Mastrogiacomo is already back at work. Ajmal, so they say, is been held back and interrogated by the Afghan Secret Services, and will be released to freedom and his family within Saturday.
No news about Hanifi, arrested by the Afghan secret services.
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Gino Strada says that prime minister Prodi has said that the Italian government will do everything possible to convince the Afghan government to release Hanefi, and he (Strada) will also do everything to find out where Ajmal is.
Corriere news
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In an email from from Bob Dietz < bdietz@cpj.org> at CPJ concerning Ajaml:
“It looks like the Taliban still have him—- his brother and father are
in Kabul, very worried.
For now, get as many people you can to call the UN Mission or the Afghan
embassy in your country.
Stay tuned—- I’ll get a email group going later today.”
Here are a list of Afghan embassies: http://www.afghan-network.net/Culture/embassies.html
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No news in the news (besides a lot of political talk), I want to hope that it means they’re all working hard behind the scenes, in the ambassies, between the governments… WE WILL NOT JUST FORGET! because it happens miles away, it’s about someone we don’t personally know.. we will not forget!
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From Katja’s link above:
COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS
A call to colleagues:
Press for release of Afghan journalist Ajmal Nakshbandi
“March 23, 2007
Dear Colleagues,
We are asking you, journalists and news organizations, to help pressure the Afghan government to work for the release of Ajmal Nakshbandi, the freelance Afghan journalist who was seized with La Repubblica reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo and the group’s driver Sayed Agha. As you know, Agha was beheaded a few days after the men were taken on March 5.
According to most sources, Ajmal is still being held by the Taliban group that abducted them and is still somewhere in Helmand province.
Ajmal was a journalist in his own right, and he augmented his income by working as a translator for other journalists and aid groups. As journalists, we all know men and women like him, and we know how much we depend on them to help us cover difficult stories around the world. We must do what we can to press for his safe release.
Ajmal’s case has been overshadowed by the controversial conditions under which Daniele Mastrogiacomo was released. But we cannot let that get in the way of pressing the government of President Hamid Karzai to do what it can to secure Ajmal’s release. We are not asking the government to trade prisoners or money for Ajmal, only that it continue to press for his release and not let his abduction fade from public consciousness. Afghan journalists are already applying that pressure; adding international voices to that call will help our colleagues there.
Because the situation is so precarious, rather than take the time to gather signatures for a petition, we are asking journalists and media organizations to fax or call Afghan diplomatic missions in their country, telling them of our concern and asking them to pass that concern along to President Karzai’s office. And, of course, feel free to call the president’s office directly.
To help in this effort, we have attached a list of Afghan missions in many countries, along with contacts for President Karzai’s office.
Sincerely,
Joel Simon
Executive Director”
Office of the spokesman of President Hamid Karzai
Tel: +93 799 33 77 55
Embassies of the Islamic State of Afghanistan
(available at http://www.president.gov.af/english/diplomatic_representations.mspx)
United States
Ambassador Said Tayeb Jawad
Tel: +1 202 483-6410
Fax: +1 202 483-6488
United Kingdom
Ambassador Ahmad Wali Masoud
Tel: +44-20 7589 8891
Fax: +44-20 7581 3452
United Nations
Permanent Representative to the UN Zahir Tanin
Tel: +1 212 972 1212
Fax: +1 212 972 1216
Australia
Ambassador Mahmoud Saikal
Tel: +61-2 6282 7311
Fax: +61-2 6282 7322
Canada
Ambassador Omar Samad
Tel: +61 3 563 4223
Fax: +61 3 563 4962
Czech Republic
Ambassador Azizullah Karzai
Tel: +42 02-233-544-228
Fax: +42 02-233-452-009
France, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland
Ambassador Zalmai Haquani
Tel: +33 1-45250529
Fax: +33 1-42244714
Germany
Ambassador Hamidullah Nasir Zia
Tel: +49 30 206 7350
Fax: +49 30 229 1510
India
Ambassador Masood Khalili
Tel.: +91-11 410 3331
Fax: +91-11 687 5439
Italy
Ambassador Abdullah Ali
Tel: +39 06-8621 6111
Fax: +39 06-8632 2939
Japan
Ambassador Haron Amin
Tel: +81-3 5465 1219
Fax: +81-3 5465 1229
Norway
Ambassador Yahya Maroofi
Tel: +47 22 83 84 10
Fax: +47 22 83 84 11
Pakistan
Ambassador Nangyalai Tarzi
Tel.: +92 51 2824 505/6
Fax: +92 51 2824 504
Poland
Ambassador Abdul Hai Haidar
Tel: +48 22-6460314
Fax: +48 22-848028
Join CPJ in protesting this attack on the press. Write or fax to the address above.
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I have just called the Afghani Mission here and they asked me (us) in Canada to send an email or fax in support that that President Karzai has some “hard copy” of the support….the email contact (for those living in Canada) is:
contact@afghanemb-canada.net
canadian LS’ers, send them an email or fax…...
bob
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I have also sent a fax copy of my email to the embassy….as they requested….
bob
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I just faxed my concern to Ambassador Said Tayeb Jawad at the US embassy listed above.
Fax: +1 202 483-6488
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PLEASE, keep the emails and faxes rolling!!......
the woman at the Canadian Mission told me that they were aware of “global support” of the release and Karzai’s actions…and im hoping that the wheels continue to squeek here at LS….
bb
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Journalist Ajmal Naqeshbandi and LS Member
”... Mr Mastrogiacomo’s Kabul-based interpreter Ajmal Naqeshbandi, meanwhile, is still missing, to the great distress of his family.
“The family is frightened and depressed,” his brother Munir Naqshabandi said.
“The government doesn’t care about us. I don’t know why.”
He said the Italian embassy in Kabul and Mr Mastrogiacomo’s newspaper, La Repubblica, had offered to help, but since the Italian was released they had heard nothing from his kidnappers.
“The government tried to release Daniele, but after he was released they have done nothing to help my brother,” Munir told the BBC.
“I appeal to the Taleban to release my brother, because we are Muslim. My brother is an Afghan, he worked as a journalist and not for any governments.”
According to their father, Ghulam Haider, Ajmal, 25, who was married six months ago, was the family’s main earner.
“He is the only one supporting the family, without him there is no-one else,” he said.” Friday, 23 March 2007, 11:21 GMT.
Please see info above or click here and then fax, call or email ASAP to help free Ajmal. Time is very critical and thanks to your help, hopefully we will hear some good news later today. PLEASE, we need your help now.
Personal colleagues need to contact Teru, here, at LS, or Bill Dietz at CPJ immediately at: info@cpj.org 330 7th Avenue • 11th Floor • New York NY • 10001 • Tel. 212-465-1004 • Fax 212-465-9568
Thanks!!
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In an interview to Ajmal’s father by the Associated Press he says that Ajmal is still in the hands of the Taliban, this seems to be confirmed by Mullah Dadullah. They are asking the Afghan government for an exchange of prisoners.
Article can be read here
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For English speakers, here is a rough english Babel Fish translation of emk’s AP article. Article says a video showed up today from the 12th of March with Ajmal speaking on it.
“MASTROGIACOMO/ FATHER AJMAL: MY E’ SON; IN HANDS TALEBANE Ghulam Haydan, contacted dall’agenzia AP 23-03-2007 20:14 has said to It Articles to topic | All the news of Politics Rome, 23 mar. (AP) – Ajmal Nashkabandi, the guide and interpreter of Daniel Mastrogiacomo, of which sure news from the day of the dell’inviato liberation of Republic is not had, “sarebbe in the hands of the talebani”. It supports the father of Ajma, Ghulam Haydan, contacted dall’agenzia Associated Press. For before the time from the rapimento, yesterday I have spoken to it to the telefono”, Haydan has told. “Mi it has asked to help it, to make something in order to free it because its life is in danger. I have asked that what wanted the talebani, has answered to me that the government knows what vogliono”. Haydan has then attacked the Italian l’ambasciata government Afghan and in order is given to only make for the liberation of Mastrogiacomo. “Il government has not been taken care of mine figlio”. That Ajmal is found in the hands of the talebani has asserted also the Mullah to it Dadullah in un’intervista to Der Spiegel, in which supports of ready being to make an exchange of prisoners. The commander of the talebani has accused the government of Karzai is not minimally been interested to the fates dell’interprete of Mastrogiacomo, than evidently – the “Spiegel writes online” – it is still found in the hands of the guerrillas. Dadullah has offered to exchange l’interprete with an other captive talebano: Mohammed Hanif, former currently stopped megaphone to Kabul. While, always l’agenzia Aptn has received today a video, going back to 12 slid March, in which l’interprete of Mastrogiacomo it says of “trovarsi in good condizioni” and nozzle an appeal to the government Afghan for “fare the possibile” for its release. “Sono a journalist freelance”, Ajmal says on the video, “veniamo from Helmand and is enters to you in talebano territory without their permission. Hour the talebani have arrested to us. We are well. Launch an appeal to the average and my government because they make the possible one for mine liberazione”. Mastrogiacomo from Rome has launch an appeal for the liberation of Ajmal. “Ho learned from some agencies of press Afghans who Adjmal, l’interprete that it has shared my adventure in the south dell’Afghanistan, would be still found in the hands of the talebani”, law on the situated one of Republic. “Non I have other official sources that confirm this circumstance neither the government Afghan have up to now given resolutive news. With with the director of Republic Ezio Mauro we have expressed all’Ambasciatore dell’Afghanistan to Rome, Musa M. Maroofi, our worry and l’apprensione with which we follow the vicissitude, chiedendogli to take part on its government because it is possible to have to the more soon reassuring news on the fate of Adjmal”, Mastrogiacomo has asserted.”
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Press Release: Kabul, 25/03/2006
‘For immediate release’
Ajmal Naqshbandi father asks media outlets to call his son reporter not translator:
A letter from Ajmal Naqshbandi’s father, who is under detained of Taliban, is issued that his son should be called journalist not translator.
The letter was brought to Media Watch office along with the copy of Ajmal’s ID which shows that he is reporter for the Tokyo Shimbund.
The letter states that Ajmal was detained along with an Italian journalist and an Afghan driver, the Italian journalist was released by efforts of Afghanistan government, Italian government, Italian embassy in Afghanistan and Italian prime minister, but unfortunately Ajmal is still under the detain of Taliban and the media (national and international) is calling him as a translator.
The letter says that Ajmal is a freelance reporter.
Ajmal father’s also ask Taliban leader to do a favor on him and his family and release his son, because he was the only supporter of his family and because of his journalism professions, he was in Helmand not for any other reasons.
The copy of the letter along with the copy of IDs is attached.
You will read more on the case in MW next news letter
For more information please contact:
Sediqullah Tawhidi
Nai Media Watch Manager
tauhidi@nai.org.af
+93 700 279 176
Or
Jawid Ahmad Musawer
Nai Media Watch reporter
jawid.ahmad@nai.org.af
+93 799 340 831
This publication has been produced with the assistance of the Counterpart International, I-PACS (Initiative to Promote Afghan Civil Society). The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Nai and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the Counterpar
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“Ghulam Haydan, the father of the kidnapped… Ajmal [Naqeshbandi], said he talked to his son by phone on Thursday for the first time since his capture. He said his son pleaded: “Do something for me, my life is at risk.”
“I asked him, ‘What does the Taliban want?’ And he answered that the government knows. But the government hasn’t told us anything,” said Haydan, whose right leg was blown off by a mine in the late 1990s…”
The Associated Press, Published: March 23, 2007 Quote taken from The International Herald Tribune Asia
Pacific article
PLEASE NOTE:(According to Ajmal’s LS profile email address, the correct spelling of Ajmal’s name is: “Ajmal Naqeshbandi”
and I notice more current internet searches for Ajmal come up with this spelling or “Ajmal Naqshbandi”, however, other variations in the press have been “Ajmal Nakshbandi” (CPJ & Lightstalkers), “Ajmal Naskhbandi”, and “Ajmal or Adjmal Nashkbandi” (Google Video, PeaceReporter, Emergency), so search under these spellings as well.)
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I sincerely hope he’s released immediately but I also hope we’re not putting more determination into his kidnappers by trying to be supportive. So much media attention might give his kidnappers hopes of a ransom being paid by someone or some organisation.
bump
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“Taliban want deal to release Afghan hostage
KABUL, Mar 25 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Captors of the Afghan journalist Ajmal Naqshbandi on Sunday said they were ready to hold negotiations with the government over the release of the hostage.
Ajmal was kidnapped by Taliban along with Italian journalist Danielle Mastrogiacomo on March 4. The Italian journalist was swapped with five Taliban prisoners on March 19; however, his Afghan guide is still in their custody.
Shahabuddin Atal, spokesman for Taliban commander Mulla Dadullah, told Pajhwok the government so far did not contact them for the release of the Afghan journalist.
Asked why the Taliban did not release an Afghan when his foreign comrade was set free several days back, the spokesman said they would never harm their own countrymen.
Taliban had beheaded Sayed Agha, driver of the Italian journalist, on charges of spying for the foreign troops. Soon after their kidnapping in Nad Ali district of Helmand, the three people were accused of spying. Of them, the Italian journalist was set free on March 19, his driver was executed two days before the clandestine deal, while his guide Ajmal is still in the custody of Taliban.
Accusing the government of agreeing to every fair and false means to ensure safety of foreigners, Atal said they wanted to prove to the people that the rulers had no soft corner for their own nationals.
Contacted for comments, presidential spokesman Karim Rahimi said the security agencies were involved in hectic efforts to ensure safe release of the Afghan journalist.
He said President Hamid Karzai had once again directed the security agencies to accelerate efforts for the release of the Afghan national. However, he said they had received no demand from the Taliban so far.
Danish Karokhel
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dk”
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