October 10, 2007

German Hostage Freed in Afghanistan

After appearing in a video earlier this week pleading to be rescued before Afghanistan's harsh winter set in, German engineer Rudolf Blechschmidt and his 4 Afghan co-workers were freed today in exchange for 6 Taliban fighters. Via AP:

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A German engineer and four Afghans taken hostage in July were freed Wednesday in exchange for six Taliban fighters, an Afghan official said.

Rudolf Blechschmidt and the four Afghans were handed over by local elders to officials from Afghanistan's intelligence service in the Jaghato district of Wardak province, said the district chief, Mohammad Nahim.

Six detained Taliban militants had been freed in the swap, he said.

In Germany, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier confirmed that Blechschmidt had been freed, and the former captive told Spiegel magazine on his release that he was "doing well."

"I'm just a little tired," he told the magazine in a short telephone interview posted on its Web site.

Blechschmidt had also talked with the German ambassador by telephone and confirmed he was safely in the custody of Afghan security forces, Steinmeier said in a statement.

"We are all pleased and relieved," Steinmeier said.

While it is wonderful that our prayers have been answered by Mr. Blechschmidt's safe release, it is blemished by the fact that Afghanistan had to free captured Taliban fighters who will now be able to kidnap and murder others. While it would be hypocritical of me to pray for a hostage's safe release and then criticize the manner in which that safe release was brought to pass, it is these kind of coerced decisions that make kidnapping such a heinous crime. Once the abduction is set in motion, there are very few good options for the victim's government to follow. The government can abandon the hostage, refusing to take part in any kind of negotiations or meet any demands, in the hope of discouraging future kidnappings. It can launch a rescue operation, risking the lives of the captive and the rescuers in the attempt. Or it can try to meet the kidnappers' demands in the least damaging way possible, realizing that the lives of our citizens will always be precious to us, and that the terrorists will claim a propaganda victory either way.