US security contractor kidnapped in eastern Afghanistan

US security contractor kidnapped in eastern Afghanistan. 

KABUL: An official confirmed Thursday of kidnapping of a US security contractor in eastern Afghanistan.

An Afghan security official with knowledge of the incident told AFP that the former US Navy member had been working in Afghanistan as a contractor.

US security contractor kidnapped

However, abduction took place last week in eastern Khost province.

No militant group or a criminal organisation had claimed the kidnapping.

The Taliban told AFP they had “no information” about the matter.

The incident comes after the Taliban in November handed two Western hostages over to US forces in southern Afghanistan.

They had remained in captivity for three years in a swap for three high-ranking insurgent prisoners.

Although US State Department said to have been aware of reports of the kidnapping, yet they declined to comment further.

The exchange of American Kevin King and Australian Timothy Weeks for the militants — including Anas Haqqani, brother to the Taliban´s deputy leader — was widely believed to be instrumental in kick-starting stalled talks between the two sides.

Later, Taliban later described the exchange as “a step forward in good-will and confidence-building measures. They had expressed optimism it could aid the peace process.

GTV