January 30, 2022
1 min read

Biden demands release of last US hostage in Afghanistan

Biden said that the hostage-taking is an act of particular “cruelty and cowardice”…reports Asian Lite News

US President Joe Biden on Sunday (local time) called for the release of US Navy veteran Mark Frerichs, who was taken hostage by Taliban in Afghanistan nearly two years ago.

“Two years ago tomorrow, U.S. Navy veteran Mark Frerichs was taken hostage in Afghanistan. A civil engineer, he spent a decade helping the people of Afghanistan. He has done nothing wrong. And yet, for two years the Taliban has held him captive,” Biden said in a statement.

The statement said “Mark is a native of Illinois. A son. A brother. And his family has now endured two gut-wrenching years–praying for his safety, wondering where and how he is, aching for his return.”

Biden said that the hostage-taking is an act of particular “cruelty and cowardice”.

Afghan Taliban members patrol at a security checkpoint in Kunduz, northern Afghanistan, on Sept. 15, 2021. (Photo by Ajmal Kakar/Xinhua/IANS)

“Threatening the safety of Americans or any innocent civilians is always unacceptable, and hostage-taking is an act of particular cruelty and cowardice. The Taliban must immediately release Mark before it can expect any consideration of its aspirations for legitimacy. This is not negotiable,” read the statement.

“To Mark, and to all the Americans being held hostage and wrongfully detained overseas, and to all their families and friends who are enduring the nightmare of their absence: know that my administration will continue to work steadfastly until every American being unjustly held against their will comes home,” the statement added.

The Taliban took over control of Kabul on August 15 last year and following this the country has been battered by deepening economic, humanitarian and security crisis.

A combination of a suspension of foreign aid, the freezing of Afghan government assets, and international sanctions on the Taliban, have plunged the country, already suffering from high poverty levels, into a full-blown economic crisis. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Border tragedy: Cremation of Indian family likely in Canada

Previous Story

NATO rules out sending combat troops to Ukraine

Next Story

Global Covid caseload tops 374.3 mn

Latest from -Top News

Pak Army Chief Targets India Again

This is not the first time that Munir has indulged in loose talk, exhibiting conduct unbecoming an officer….reports Asian Lite News Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir on

Relief for Students: US Visa Cancellations Paused

More than 1,500 student visas have been cancelled so far…reports Asian Lite News The United States on Friday abruptly paused the cancellation of student visas issued to international students, according to reports.

Yunus Must Be Treated Like Hasina, Warn Islamists

Islamist group made these warnings to the interim government, terming the women’s reform body proposals as “anti-Islamic…reports Asian Lite News The radical Islamist group in Bangladesh, Hefazat-e-Islam, has issued a threat, stating

UN: Bring Pahalgam Terrorists to Justice

The members of the Security Council “stressed that those responsible for these killings should be held accountable..reports Asian Lite News The Security Council has “condemned in the strongest terms” the Pahalgam terrorist
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Massive protests in US as abortion right ends

Twin demonstrations were also getting under way in Los Angeles

Private collector to return looted antiquities to Cambodia

Other artifacts include a sandstone Buddha sculpture from seventh-eighth century,