News Maker: Kidnapped Italian Journalist Freed in Afghanistan

An Italian journalist kidnapped in Afghanistan was handed over to Italian officials yesterday after two weeks in captivity and days after his driver was executed.

Taliban military commander Mullah Dadullah and the Italian government said Karachi-born La Repubblica reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo had been freed, but details remained sketchy.

“My head is still spinning but I am happy. I managed to get out of the situation and I thank everybody who helped me,” the freed Italian journalist told a TV channel owned by his paper, La Repubblica, soon after his release.

“This is the most wonderful moment of my life.”

The journalist said he had been “bound hand and foot” by his captors and moved to 15 different locations “as small as sheep pens, in the middle of the desert”.

Afghan’s private Pajhwok news agency said Mastrogiacomo had been handed to “Italian officials” in southern Helmand province, where NATO last month launched a major offensive.

The Taliban’s military commander, Mullah Dadullah, said by satellite phone from an undisclosed location the reporter had been freed after Afghan authorities released five senior Taliban officials, including his own brother.

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