Italy confirms swapping Taliban for Mastrogiacomo
{{date|March 22, 2007}}

[[Image:Afghanistan-Helmand.png|right|thumb|Location of [[Helmand Province]] within Afghanistan where Daniele Mastrogiacomo was taken hostage.]]
[[Italy|Italian]] journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo who was held hostage for 15 days, was traded for five [[Afghan Taliban|Taliban]] prisoners, as confirmed by Italian and [[Afghanistan|Afgani]] authorities.

This likely represents the first time during the [[w:Iraq War|Iraq War]] or [[w:War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|War in Afghanistan]] that prisoners were openly exchanged for a hostage. An Afghani government source said the swap "was an exceptional measure taken because we value our relations and friendship with Italy."
{{QuoteLeft|Maybe the enemy will realize the great benefit they gained from this deal, and tomorrow even the reporters in Kabul won't be safe. This is not good. The government can't let the enemy use this strategy.|4={{w|Mohammad Qassim Akhgar}}, political analyst}}
The move received sharp criticism from allies of Italy. In Washington, a senior State Department official said the [[United States]] was pleased the journalist had been released unharmed, but was troubled by possible ramifications of the swap. A spokesperson at the {{w|Foreign and Commonwealth Office|British Foreign Office}} said the deal sent "the wrong signal to prospective hostage-takers".

{{w|Maxime Verhagen}}, {{w|Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Netherlands)|Foreign Minister of the Netherlands}} spoke against the swap, "When we create situations where you can buy the freedom of Taliban fighters when you catch a journalist, in the short term there will be no journalists anymore."
 
The international backlash is the latest headache for [[w:Prime Minister of Italy|Italian Prime Minister]] {{w|Romano Prodi}}, who has fought hard to keep troops in Afghanistan despite resistance from {{w|pacifist|pacifists}} within his centre-left coalition.

Prodi briefly resigned last month after a defeat in the {{w|Italian Senate|Senate}} over his foreign policy, including Afghanistan, and needs the Senate next week to approve a refinancing of the mission.

An opinion poll published by Mastrogiacomo's newspaper, ''{{w|La Repubblica}}'', showed that 51 percent of Italians surveyed supported the exchange, while 41 percent opposed it.

== Related news ==
*{{Wikinews|title=Italian journalist freed by Afghan captors|date=March 20, 2007}}

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6498570,00.html
|title=Taliban Prisoners Exchanged for Reporter 
|author=Jason Straziuso|
|pub=Guardian Unlimited|
date=March 22, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/21/world/europe/21cnd-italy.html?hp
|title=Italy Swapped 5 Jailed Taliban for a Hostage
|author=Ian Fisher
|pub=The New York Times
|date=March 21, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://in.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2007-03-21T084812Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-291677-3.xml&archived=False
|title=Freed Italian reporter flies home amid controversy
|author=Silvia Aloisi
|pub=Reuters
|date=March 21, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSL2141389820070321
|title=U.S., Britain slam Italy hostage deal with Taliban
|author=Phil Stewart
|pub=Reuters
|date=March 21, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21420812-2703,00.html
|title=Protests over Taliban exchange for journalist
|author=Richard Owen and Tim Albone
|pub=The Australian
|date=March 21, 2007}}

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[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Afghanistan]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Italy]]
[[Category:United Kingdom]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Afghan Taliban]]
[[Category:Journalism]]
[[Category:Helmand Province]]
[[Category:Daniele Mastrogiacomo]]
[[Category:Foreign and Commonwealth Office]]
[[Category:Italian Parliament]]
[[Category:Romano Prodi]]
Location of Helmand Province within Afghanistan where Daniele Mastrogiacomo was taken hostage.
Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo who was held hostage for 15 days, was traded for five Taliban prisoners, as confirmed by Italian and Afgani authorities.

This likely represents the first time during the Iraq War or War in Afghanistan that prisoners were openly exchanged for a hostage. An Afghani government source said the swap "was an exceptional measure taken because we value our relations and friendship with Italy."

The move received sharp criticism from allies of Italy. In Washington, a senior State Department official said the United States was pleased the journalist had been released unharmed, but was troubled by possible ramifications of the swap. A spokesperson at the British Foreign Office said the deal sent "the wrong signal to prospective hostage-takers".

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Netherlands)|Foreign Minister of the Netherlands spoke against the swap, "When we create situations where you can buy the freedom of Taliban fighters when you catch a journalist, in the short term there will be no journalists anymore."
 
The international backlash is the latest headache for Italian Prime Minister pacifist|pacifists within his centre-left coalition.

Prodi briefly resigned last month after a defeat in the Senate over his foreign policy, including Afghanistan, and needs the Senate next week to approve a refinancing of the mission.

An opinion poll published by Mastrogiacomo's newspaper, , showed that 51 percent of Italians surveyed supported the exchange, while 41 percent opposed it.
Asia Afghanistan Europe Italy United Kingdom North America United States Politics and conflicts Afghan Taliban Journalism Helmand Province Daniele Mastrogiacomo Foreign and Commonwealth Office Italian Parliament Romano Prodi