Advertisement The East African News World Free last US hostage in Afghanistan, Biden tells Taliban Monday January 31 2022 US President Joe Biden who on January 30, 2022 called on the Taliban to "immediately release" Mark Frerichs, the man believed to be its last American hostage. PHOTO | JEFF SWENSEN | GETTY IMAGES | AFP Summary The United States completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan in August, closing more than two decades of war that began with the US-led invasion following the September 11, 2001 attacks and ended with the Taliban back in power.Washington has repeatedly told the Taliban it will have to "earn" legitimacy before being recognised by the international community. Advertisement By AFP More by this Author Washington,US President Joe Biden on Sunday called on the Taliban to "immediately release" the man believed to be its last American hostage, withholding any hope of recognising the militants' rule in Afghanistan until he is free.The announcement came on the eve of the two-year anniversary of the kidnapping of Mark Frerichs, a US Navy veteran who had spent a decade in Afghanistan working as a civil engineer."The Taliban must immediately release Mark before it can expect any consideration of its aspirations for legitimacy. This is not negotiable," Biden said in a statement."Threatening the safety of Americans or any innocent civilians is always unacceptable, and hostage-taking is an act of particular cruelty and cowardice," he added.Taliban back in power Related Report: Taliban killed 100 ex-Afghan govt officials UN chief Guterres calls on Taliban to uphold women's rights Radio Begum amplifies Afghan women's voices Muslim-majority states to discuss Afghanistan in crucial meet Advertisement The United States completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan in August, closing more than two decades of war that began with the US-led invasion following the September 11, 2001 attacks and ended with the Taliban back in power.Washington has repeatedly told the Taliban it will have to "earn" legitimacy before being recognised by the international community.According to reports, Taliban negotiators have previously suggested a prisoner exchange, swapping Frerichs for Bashir Noorzai, an Afghan tribal warlord and alleged Taliban associate imprisoned for life in the United States for smuggling heroin into the country.But the US has expressed little interest in the deal.Sister’s pleaFrerichs's sister, Charlene Cakora, pleaded in an opinion piece Thursday in The Washington Post for Biden to bring him home."The US government either makes this trade or it doesn't save my brother's life. Every day we don't bring Mark home is another day he remains in danger," Cakora wrote.As the United States completed its withdrawal last August, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the State Department and other US officials were engaged in pushing for the release of Frerichs."They've continued to press the Taliban for his release, continued to raise the status in senior level engagements," she said. Advertisement In the headlines Ethiopia armed clashes displace over 50,000 The humanitarian situation is dire, with thousands of women and children in need of broad humanitarian support to survive. IMF: Kenya economy to overtake Angola Kenya is projected to overtake Angola and become the fourth-largest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2024. Turkey to drill oil off Somali coast starting in 2025UK parliament passes Rwanda migration lawRuto: Digital access to unlock Africa’s potentialTruce crumbles in Sudan army's last Darfur holdoutKenya opens window for Uganda powder milk
Advertisement The East African News World Free last US hostage in Afghanistan, Biden tells Taliban Monday January 31 2022 US President Joe Biden who on January 30, 2022 called on the Taliban to "immediately release" Mark Frerichs, the man believed to be its last American hostage. PHOTO | JEFF SWENSEN | GETTY IMAGES | AFP Summary The United States completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan in August, closing more than two decades of war that began with the US-led invasion following the September 11, 2001 attacks and ended with the Taliban back in power.Washington has repeatedly told the Taliban it will have to "earn" legitimacy before being recognised by the international community. Advertisement By AFP More by this Author Washington,US President Joe Biden on Sunday called on the Taliban to "immediately release" the man believed to be its last American hostage, withholding any hope of recognising the militants' rule in Afghanistan until he is free.The announcement came on the eve of the two-year anniversary of the kidnapping of Mark Frerichs, a US Navy veteran who had spent a decade in Afghanistan working as a civil engineer."The Taliban must immediately release Mark before it can expect any consideration of its aspirations for legitimacy. This is not negotiable," Biden said in a statement."Threatening the safety of Americans or any innocent civilians is always unacceptable, and hostage-taking is an act of particular cruelty and cowardice," he added.Taliban back in power Related Report: Taliban killed 100 ex-Afghan govt officials UN chief Guterres calls on Taliban to uphold women's rights Radio Begum amplifies Afghan women's voices Muslim-majority states to discuss Afghanistan in crucial meet Advertisement The United States completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan in August, closing more than two decades of war that began with the US-led invasion following the September 11, 2001 attacks and ended with the Taliban back in power.Washington has repeatedly told the Taliban it will have to "earn" legitimacy before being recognised by the international community.According to reports, Taliban negotiators have previously suggested a prisoner exchange, swapping Frerichs for Bashir Noorzai, an Afghan tribal warlord and alleged Taliban associate imprisoned for life in the United States for smuggling heroin into the country.But the US has expressed little interest in the deal.Sister’s pleaFrerichs's sister, Charlene Cakora, pleaded in an opinion piece Thursday in The Washington Post for Biden to bring him home."The US government either makes this trade or it doesn't save my brother's life. Every day we don't bring Mark home is another day he remains in danger," Cakora wrote.As the United States completed its withdrawal last August, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the State Department and other US officials were engaged in pushing for the release of Frerichs."They've continued to press the Taliban for his release, continued to raise the status in senior level engagements," she said. Advertisement In the headlines Ethiopia armed clashes displace over 50,000 The humanitarian situation is dire, with thousands of women and children in need of broad humanitarian support to survive. IMF: Kenya economy to overtake Angola Kenya is projected to overtake Angola and become the fourth-largest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2024. Turkey to drill oil off Somali coast starting in 2025UK parliament passes Rwanda migration lawRuto: Digital access to unlock Africa’s potentialTruce crumbles in Sudan army's last Darfur holdoutKenya opens window for Uganda powder milk
Summary The United States completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan in August, closing more than two decades of war that began with the US-led invasion following the September 11, 2001 attacks and ended with the Taliban back in power.Washington has repeatedly told the Taliban it will have to "earn" legitimacy before being recognised by the international community. Advertisement By AFP More by this Author Washington,US President Joe Biden on Sunday called on the Taliban to "immediately release" the man believed to be its last American hostage, withholding any hope of recognising the militants' rule in Afghanistan until he is free.The announcement came on the eve of the two-year anniversary of the kidnapping of Mark Frerichs, a US Navy veteran who had spent a decade in Afghanistan working as a civil engineer."The Taliban must immediately release Mark before it can expect any consideration of its aspirations for legitimacy. This is not negotiable," Biden said in a statement."Threatening the safety of Americans or any innocent civilians is always unacceptable, and hostage-taking is an act of particular cruelty and cowardice," he added.Taliban back in power Related Report: Taliban killed 100 ex-Afghan govt officials UN chief Guterres calls on Taliban to uphold women's rights Radio Begum amplifies Afghan women's voices Muslim-majority states to discuss Afghanistan in crucial meet Advertisement The United States completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan in August, closing more than two decades of war that began with the US-led invasion following the September 11, 2001 attacks and ended with the Taliban back in power.Washington has repeatedly told the Taliban it will have to "earn" legitimacy before being recognised by the international community.According to reports, Taliban negotiators have previously suggested a prisoner exchange, swapping Frerichs for Bashir Noorzai, an Afghan tribal warlord and alleged Taliban associate imprisoned for life in the United States for smuggling heroin into the country.But the US has expressed little interest in the deal.Sister’s pleaFrerichs's sister, Charlene Cakora, pleaded in an opinion piece Thursday in The Washington Post for Biden to bring him home."The US government either makes this trade or it doesn't save my brother's life. Every day we don't bring Mark home is another day he remains in danger," Cakora wrote.As the United States completed its withdrawal last August, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the State Department and other US officials were engaged in pushing for the release of Frerichs."They've continued to press the Taliban for his release, continued to raise the status in senior level engagements," she said.
Ethiopia armed clashes displace over 50,000 The humanitarian situation is dire, with thousands of women and children in need of broad humanitarian support to survive. IMF: Kenya economy to overtake Angola Kenya is projected to overtake Angola and become the fourth-largest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2024. Turkey to drill oil off Somali coast starting in 2025UK parliament passes Rwanda migration lawRuto: Digital access to unlock Africa’s potentialTruce crumbles in Sudan army's last Darfur holdoutKenya opens window for Uganda powder milk