Afghan paper urges execution of Taliban prisoners

Kabul, Apr 9: The Afghan government should execute Taliban prisoners, an Afghan daily today said, the day after the rebels killed the translator of an Italian journalist.

A spokesman for the Taliban commander holding translator Ajmal Naqshbandi said he was beheaded yesterday after the government refused to free several insurgent prisoners.

Government officials later confirmed the man was killed.

''Martyring Ajmal Naqshbandi and their other crimes happen as the government shows extreme leniency towards the Taliban prisoners,'' Arman-e-Millie daily said in an editorial.

''There has been no implementation of punishment for any criminal and killer Taliban who has been sentenced to heavy punishment by the judicial authorities,'' it said. ''From now on, criminal Taliban should be executed.'' Newly Married Naqshbandi, along with La Repubblica reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo and his local driver, were kidnapped early last month.

The Taliban freed the Italian after about two weeks when Kabul released five of its senior members.

The swap happened after the group beheaded Mastrogiacomo's driver, but the rebels had held on to his translator in a bid to secure the release of more of their men.

Another daily, Cheragh, criticised the government for failing to free Naqshbandi but going ahead with a deal to secure Mastrogiacomo's freedom and save Italy's fragile government from embarrassment.

''Mr Karzai, no doubt, you managed to save the Italian government from falling. But with regret, you could not save the life of an Afghan and someone who had voted for you,'' it said.

A group representing Afghan journalists said the execution has sparked fear among local reporters of covering areas where the Taliban are active.

Some Afghan journalists vowed to leave out Taliban comments or statements from publications.

The Mastrogiacomo deal was widely criticised in Italy and Afghanistan. Security experts warned it would trigger more abductions of foreigners.

Last week, two French aid workers -- a man and a woman -- were kidnapped along with three Afghan colleagues in the rugged, lawless Nimroz province between Iran and Afghanistan's opium heartland of Helmand province.

On Friday, Karzai said he had come under pressure from Rome to approve a deal to win the journalist's release but ruled out any more prisoner swaps with the Taliban.

The Taliban are also holding five Afghan health officials and have demanded the release of more rebels.

The insurgents have not yet issued a ransom demand in return for freeing the French pair.

Reuters