The Afghan government assured that the exchange that freed Italian reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo was "an exceptional measure" and would not be repeated.
KABUL: The Afghan government admitted on Tuesday to exchanging Taliban prisoners for an Italian hostage as the United Nations and United States led criticism of any negotiations with "terrorists".
The exchange that freed Italian reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo on Monday was "an exceptional measure" and would not be repeated, presidential spokesman Karim Rahimi told reporters as the criticism grew.
Mastrogiacomo was captured in the southern province of Helmand on March 4 with a translator and a driver. The Italian said the driver was beheaded in front of him. The translator was still being held, an official said.
Asked if he could confirm Taliban were exchanged for the Mastrogiacomo, Rahimi replied: "Yes." He did not say how many. "It was an exceptional measure taken because we value our relations and friendship with Italy," he said. Italy has 2,000 troops in Afghanistan as part of a NATO-led force fighting the Taliban and its allies.
Taliban commander Mullah Dadullah said through an Afghan news agency Monday he freed the Italian after receiving five Taliban prisoners, including a "culture officer," a former spokesman and two commanders.
The United Nations welcomed Mastrogiacomo's release. "However on the issue of negotiations, the UN does not negotiate with terrorists," spokesman Adrian Edwards said.
"It is US policy not to make concessions to terrorists' demands," US embassy spokesman Joe Mellott said.
The Afghan Independent Journalists Association said the deal was "not acceptable for us."
"Our concern is that after this kind of exchange the journalists will become a target -- there will be more and more kidnaps by Taliban and Al-Qaeda," president Rahimullah Samander said.
Grieving relatives of the slain driver, Sayed Agha, accused the government of double standards at a protest at the Italian-run Emergency hospital in the Helmand capital Lashkar Gah whose staff were key to the negotiations.
"Why would the government release five criminals for an infidel foreigner and not for a poor Afghan?" one of Agha's uncles, Khan Jan, said.
Agha was killed on Thursday, a spokesman for Dadullah said in the media, intensifying talks for the Italian's release. His body was found in Garmser, about 50 kilometres from Lashkar Gah where he lived, a cousin said.
In Kabul the relatives of translator Ajmal Naqshbandi were desperate. The Pajhwok Afghan News agency reported the Taliban was still holding him because they wanted more of their men freed.
"This is not fair," his father Ghulam Haidar said. "To release the Italian, they released five Taliban. But to release my son they won't release one Taliban."
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