[Strengthandhonour]

Italy troops missing in Afghanistan

Two Italian soldiers are missing in western Afghanistan after they lost contact with their command, the Italian defence ministry has said.

"According to the current situation, two soldiers, with whom contact has been interrupted for several hours, are missing," the ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
Italy has about 2,000 troops stationed in Afghanistan as part of the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf).

Italy's foreign ministry earlier denied Afghan police reports that two Italians, believed to be journalists, were feared kidnapped in Herat province, western Afghanistan. Afghan police said they were searching across the province for two Italian nationals and two Afghans who had not been heard from for nearly 24 hours.

Police search

The Italians are believed to be journalists and the Afghans are thought to be working as an interpreter and a driver, said Ali Khan Husseinzada, criminal investigation police chief for western Afghanistan.

The four individuals had travelled to Shindand district where the Taliban fighters are active, he said.

Intelligence reports said the four had driven from Herat city in two vehicles on Saturday and then left one of them in Shindand's Azizabad area.

"Then they drove in an unknown direction. Since then we've not heard of them," Husseinzada said.

"Right now we're searching for them. We're looking into where they might have gone or if they've been kidnapped," he said.

Previous captures

Rome came under criticism from Nato member countries earlier this year for allegedly entering into a deal with Taliban representatives to secure the release of Daniele Mastrogiacomo, an Italian journalist.

Mastrogiacomo was freed by Taliban fighters in March after being held for three weeks.

The Afghan government released five Taliban members from prison, but Mastrogiacomo’s interpreter and a driver were beheaded.

At least two other Italians have been captured in Afghanistan in recent years.

In October, Gabriele Torsello, a photojournalist, was abducted by fighters in the southern province of Helmand and held for three weeks.

Clementina Cantoni, an Italian aid worker, was captured in May 2005 by a criminal gang in Kabul and released after 24 days.



source: Al Jazeera English - News - Italy Troops Missing In Afghanistan