KIDNAPPED AFGHAN DEMINING NGO WORKER RELEASED - TALIBAN

S E C R E T KABUL 001745 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/A, PM/WRA, INL, AND INR. C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - (SUBJ AND PRECEDENCE LINES) E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2017 TAGS: KHDP MASS ASEC AF SUBJECT: KIDNAPPED AFGHAN DEMINING NGO WORKER RELEASED - TALIBAN REPORTEDLY KEEPS STOLEN AMBULENCE REF: IIR 6 044 3914 07 Classified By: Acting POLMIL Counselor Chris Buck; Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) Embassy Kabul learned of the safe release on May 17 of Esmatullah Mir Ahmadullah, an Afghan ambulance driver for an Afghan demining NGO, the Mine Clearance Planning Agency (MCPA). Ahmadullah reportedly was kidnapped by Taliban operatives in Gardez on May 14. The Taliban reportedly kept the ambulance that Ahmadullah was driving when he was kidnapped, as well as the equipment onboard. (Note: A similar kidnapping incident reportedly occurred in February in Gardez. The MCPA personnel were released, but their vehicles and equipment reportedly were kept by the Taliban. End Note.) ¶2. (C/REL ISAF) According to a report conveyed to post by a contractor providing technical support to MCPA, two armed Taliban operatives surprised Ahmadullah on May 14 when he took an MCPA-owned ambulance to a repair shop. The operatives forced Ahmadullah under one of the seats of the Toyota 13-passenger Hard Top model ambulance and drove him to an unknown location. They successfully passed through an Afghan National Police (ANP) checkpoint in the ambulance. A self-described Taliban member called the MCPA Field Office in Gardez on May 15, warning the group,s demining team to move their base camp, which is near the Gardez ANP Regional Training Center, and complaining MCPA deminers were removing IEDs laid against Coalition and Afghan forces. ¶3. (U) Description of the ambulance follows: Make/Model: Toyota Land Cruiser Hard Top (13 pax) Ambulance Color: White VIN (Chassis): JTERB71J60001181 NGO license plate number: M-5287 ¶4. (S/REL ISAF) COMMENT: The ambulance may still be in the Taliban,s possession and could be conceivably used by the Taliban as cover for operations against Coalition/ISAF or Afghan forces. This incident is similar to that reported in reftel. WOOD