Kidnapped Afghan interpreter released, as evacuation effort continues

The Afghan interpreter, who was kidnapped by the Taliban for having cooperated with the Czech military, has been released and is reported to be on the run. According to the Vlčí máky association which has been monitoring the fate of the Czech Army’s Afghan personnel in Kabul, the man’s family managed to secure his release. He is reported to have been badly beaten.

A Czech army plane sent to evacuate the remaining embassy staff and around 20 interpreters who cooperated with the Czech military in Afghanistan has now received permission to land at Kabul Airport. Among those awaiting evacuation is the Czech ambassador to Afghanistan, Jiří Baloun, who has been personally supervising the rescue effort.