Afghan hostage appeals to Karzai for freedom

KABUL (Reuters) - An Afghan translator kidnapped by the Taliban with an Italian journalist a month ago has personally appealed to President Hamid Karzai for help, at the same time accusing him of caring only for foreigners.

"You have forgotten the Afghan journalist. You are worried only for the foreigners and you are not worried for Afghans," Ajmal Naqshbandi told Karzai in an appeal passed on through Pakistani journalist Rahimullah Yusufzai late on Friday.

Naqshbandi has been held for almost a month since he, driver Sayed Agha and La Repubblica daily reporter Daniel Mastrogiacomo were kidnapped in lawless Helmand province.

Agha was beheaded in what most analysts say was a move to put pressure on Rome and Kabul to release five senior Taliban officials.

The Italian was released just over 10 days ago and spirited back to Italy after the Afghan government released the five.

Naqshbandi told the Pakistani reporter, who spoke to Reuters, Taliban military chief Mullah Dadullah said he would be released in exchange for Afghanistan freeing three more junior Taliban.

Asked what would happen to him if the three were not released, the phone was taken by a Taliban commander who said no decision had yet been taken.

The Taliban and foreign governments now warn the risk of kidnap for foreign journalists and aid workers has increased because of the Italian government's actions, something which also roused strong criticism in Italy.