TERRORISM: Three UN hostages taken in Afghanistan

The militant group is thought to have strong links to the Taleban and have stated that they intend to kill the hostages, The hostages were there helping with the October elections. The Army of Muslims was founded by a former Taleban commander, Akbar Agha, in December 2001 soon after the regime fell. With people suggesting that the Taleban are is dying force, this hostage taking suggests that they are striving to continue making there feelings known.



From what the group is claiming it seems that there is not much hope for the three hostages. The relative quiet period after the elections has not held, US forces have engaged in numerous skirmishes with suspected Taleban and militants over the past few weeks.

The wishes of the hostage takers for the foreign forces to leave and the UN to stop operations is unlikely to happen. I believe that if anything, taking hostages in this manner only gives more reason for the Coalition to remain there. For as long as the country is unsettled the UN will have to stay there.

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[edit on 31-10-2004 by Kriz_4]

[edit on 31-10-2004 by Kriz_4]

[edit on 31-10-2004 by Nerdling]

An update on the situation.

Militants who say they are holding three UN workers hostage in Afghanistan say they have split them up to make any rescue attempts more difficult.
There are conflicting reports about whether the militants have extended a deadline for a demand to free prisoners from Afghan jails and Guantanamo Bay.

news.bbc.co.uk...

The hostage takers have done this as a precaution and have claimed that if any one of the hostages are rescued they will kill the remaining two.

We are not sure if the deadline for their demands have been inctreased.

Kidnappers extend deadline
By Waheedullah Massoud in Kabul
November 5, 2004

Jaishul-Muslimeen (Army of Muslims), a newly-emerged Taliban faction, claims to be holding them and has demanded all foreign forces and UN agencies quit Afghanistan and the release of all Taliban prisoners from US custody.

The group offered a fourth deadline of 10am (4.30pm AEDT) on Friday.

"But it depends on the government's response," Mohammad Sharif, who said he was part of Jaishul Muslimeen's 10-member council, told AFP by phone.

"We talked today through telephone and they (government mediators) said they will talk with their bosses, so we are waiting for them to contact us."

edit: bold added
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Sanc'

UPDATE News just in,

A new deadline has be set,

There are reporting that Saterday is there set deadline before the hostages are killed,

Annetta Flanigan called relatives at home in Northern Ireland, while Shqipe Habibi telephoned a friend in Kosovo.

The UN workers were kidnapped with Filipino colleague Angelito Nayan in Kabul on 28 October.

A spokesman for the militants holding the hostages said more talks on their release were scheduled for Tuesday.

news.bbc.co.uk...

Sanc'.

UN hostage deadline extended

A TALIBAN splinter group that has threatened to kill three UN hostages again extended a deadline on its demands after the government said it would respond to them tomorrow, a spokesman for the group said today.

"We have had contact with representatives of the government and the United Nations who said they would respond to the demands tomorrow, Sayed Khalid Agha of the Jaish-e Muslimeen (Army of Muslims)" said.

"So we have extended the deadline until 11am (5.30pm AEDT) tomorrow."

www.news.com.au...

Sanc'.