The Plight Of American Hostages In Afghanistan: A Troubling Number

Kidnapping and hostage-taking have become common occurrences in Afghanistan since the US invasion in 2001. The perpetrators include Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters, as well as common criminals. While the exact number of American hostages in Afghanistan is unclear, there are at least two known cases of Americans who were kidnapped by the Taliban during the US war in Afghanistan and remain unaccounted for. One of them, Mark Frerichs, was released in September 2022. The other, author Paul Overby Jr., was last heard from in May 2014. The Taliban have denied any involvement in his disappearance.

Mark Frerichs, an American hostage, was kidnapped by the Taliban in 2020

Mark Frerichs, a 59-year-old Navy veteran, civil engineer, and former US Navy diver, was kidnapped by the Taliban in Kabul, Afghanistan, on January 31, 2020. Frerichs had been living and working in Kabul for about a decade, moving from job to job, motivated by a desire to help people in need. He was a target of opportunity, lured to a meeting to discuss a potential project and then taken against his will to Khost Province, a former national security official said.

Frerichs is believed to have been held in Taliban custody and was likely smuggled out of the capital and taken across the Afghanistan-Pakistan border into the tribal areas of Western Pakistan, a mountainous region that has served as a Taliban haven since 2001. Frerichs is being held by the Haqqani network, a Taliban-affiliated, mafia-esque criminal syndicate founded by Jalaluddin Haqqani, the late mujahideen leader cultivated by the CIA during the Soviet War in Afghanistan. The United States has designated the Haqqani network as a terrorist group.

Frerichs' kidnapping came at a critical time in the US-Taliban relationship. The Trump administration was in the final stages of reaching an agreement with the Taliban to pull all US troops out of Afghanistan. Three months before Frerichs' kidnapping, in November 2019, President Trump approved a controversial prisoner swap. The Haqqanis released American and Australian professors, Kevin King and Timothy Weeks, taken at gunpoint outside the American University in Kabul in August 2016, along with ten Afghan soldiers. In exchange, the Afghan government, under pressure from Trump's State Department, released three high-ranking Haqqani commanders responsible for terrorizing the city with years of car bombings and assassinations.

The timing of Frerichs' abduction was not a coincidence. The Haqqanis needed another bargaining chip as they negotiated with the Trump administration, and Frerichs became that chip. Despite this, Frerichs was left out of the bargaining process, and his kidnapping was not a priority for the Trump administration as it negotiated an end to the war.

Frerichs' family has been desperately seeking his return and has expressed frustration with the lack of progress from both the Trump and Biden administrations. They have pleaded with President Biden to treat their brother like he was his own son and bring him home. They have also advocated for a prisoner swap, which is the only viable option in their eyes. The Taliban has asked for the release of Bashir Noorzai, a Taliban-affiliated drug lord imprisoned in the US for the last 16 years. While the family understands that this would be a challenging trade and would involve making concessions to kidnappers, they believe it is the only option.

The Biden administration has said it will not stop working until Frerichs is safely returned to his family. However, with the complete withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, Frerichs' family and advocates fear for his well-being and worry that a rescue operation will become incredibly difficult and risky.

The Biden administration has been criticised for not securing the release of hostages

The Biden administration has faced criticism for its handling of the evacuation of U.S. citizens and allies from Afghanistan, with some arguing that it failed to secure the release of hostages held by the Taliban. The most notable case is that of Mark Frerichs, a U.S. Navy veteran and civil engineer who was abducted in Kabul in January 2020. Frerichs was believed to be held by the Haqqani network, a Taliban-affiliated group. His sister, Charlene Cakora, has been advocating for his release and has expressed frustration with the lack of progress from both the Trump and Biden administrations.

The Biden administration has been criticized for not prioritizing the release of Frerichs during negotiations with the Taliban. In February 2022, Cakora made a plea to President Biden, stating, "Please treat my brother like he was your son and act to bring him home quickly." Despite efforts by the U.S. government, Frerichs remained in captivity as of May 2024.

The Biden administration's approach to the evacuation and the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan has been scrutinized. Critics argue that the withdrawal of U.S. troops was rushed and poorly executed, endangering Americans and Afghan allies left behind. There were also concerns about the lack of coordination within the administration and the absence of a comprehensive plan to evacuate citizens and allies safely.

In addition to Frerichs, there were reports of other Americans being held captive or missing in Afghanistan. One case mentioned is that of author Paul Overby Jr., who was last heard from in May 2014 while travelling in Khost, Afghanistan. The Taliban has denied any involvement in his disappearance.

The Biden administration has defended its actions, stating that it continues to work towards the safe return of U.S. citizens and allies. However, the perception of a disorganized evacuation and the remaining hostages have led to criticism and questions about the administration's effectiveness in addressing the situation.

At least seven US civilians have been taken captive or gone missing during the war in Afghanistan

At least seven US civilians have been taken captive or have gone missing during the war in Afghanistan. Of these, one was killed, one escaped, and three were rescued or released.

One of the captives, Bowe Bergdahl, was a US soldier who was captured after deserting his post in 2009. He was released in 2014.

Another captive, Mark Frerichs, was released in September 2022 in exchange for Bashir Noorzai, a Taliban-affiliated drug lord. Frerichs, a US Navy veteran, civil engineer, and contractor from Lombard, Illinois, was kidnapped in Kabul in January 2020. He was believed to be in the custody of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network. Frerich's sister, Charlene Cakora, urged the US government to treat her brother "like he was [their] son" and bring him home.

In addition to Frerichs, another American, author Paul Overby Jr., is suspected to have been abducted in Afghanistan and remains unaccounted for. Overby was last heard from in May 2014 while travelling to interview Sirajuddin Haqqani, a top Taliban leader. The Taliban has denied any involvement in his disappearance.

The Taliban have denied involvement in the disappearance of author Paul Overby Jr

The Taliban have denied involvement in the disappearance of American author Paul Edwin Overby Jr., who went missing in May 2014 in Afghanistan's Khost Province, near the border with Pakistan. Overby, who was 74 or 76 years old at the time of his disappearance, was in the region to interview Sirajuddin Haqqani, the leader of the Haqqani network, a Taliban-affiliated militant group. Overby's wife, Jane Larson, believed that her husband had been kidnapped by the Taliban. However, on February 28, 2017, the Taliban released a statement denying their involvement in his disappearance.

Overby had suggested that he planned to cross the border into Pakistan as part of his research for a self-authored book about the Afghan conflict. He had previously published a book on the Soviet-Afghan War, titled "Holy Blood: An Inside View of the Afghan War," in 1993. Overby also had a health condition that required medical treatment and medication.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Department of State's Rewards for Justice program have offered rewards of up to $1 million and $5 million, respectively, for information leading to the location, recovery, and return of Overby. Despite these efforts, there has been no confirmed information about Overby's whereabouts or status.

Overby is one of a few Americans who have gone missing or been held hostage in Afghanistan. Mark Frerichs, a Navy veteran and civil engineering contractor, was kidnapped by an affiliate of the Taliban in Kabul in January 2020. Frerichs was lured to a meeting to discuss a construction project and was taken against his will to a stronghold near the Pakistan border. Another American, Bowe Bergdahl, was a U.S. soldier captured after deserting his post in 2009 and was released in 2014. At least seven U.S. civilians have been taken captive or gone missing during the war in Afghanistan, with varying outcomes.

The US government doesn't know how many people need to be evacuated from Afghanistan

The US government's lack of knowledge about the number of people requiring evacuation from Afghanistan is a critical issue. While the Biden administration has provided frequent updates on evacuation efforts, they have been reluctant to disclose the exact number of Americans and allies who need to be rescued. This number is constantly changing, with thousands of Americans believed to still be in the country, facing challenges in reaching the Kabul airport.

The situation is further complicated by the presence of tens of thousands of Afghans who worked with the US government over the last two decades and are eligible for special visas. Refugee and resettlement experts estimate that at least 300,000 Afghans are at imminent risk of Taliban retaliation due to their association with American efforts. The US government is attempting to contact Americans in Afghanistan and provide them with instructions and tailored advice on evacuation.

The Biden administration's efforts have resulted in the evacuation of tens of thousands of people, including Americans and Afghan allies. However, the precise number of Americans evacuated and those still remaining in Afghanistan is not publicly available. The dynamic nature of the situation and the complexity of the evacuation process, involving multiple countries and transit locations, contribute to the challenge of determining exact numbers.

The US government's inability to provide a clear estimate of the number of people requiring evacuation from Afghanistan highlights the urgency and complexity of the situation. The safe and efficient evacuation of Americans and vulnerable Afghans remains a top priority for the Biden administration, despite the lack of precise figures.

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