Andrew North, a former South Asia correspondent from the BBC has been captured by the Taliban.
Former Afghan Vice President, Amrullah Saleh, announced via a tweet that Mr North, along with eight others, had been kidnapped by the militant group, PA reported.
“Due to no media, no reporting by citizens & a suffocating atmosphere corruption, crime & atrocities aren’t well exposed,” Saleh tweeted. “As an example 9 citizens of western countries hv been kidnapped amongst them Andrew North of BBC & Peter Juvenal owner of Gandomak Restaurant. Talibs r liars.”
It is unknown when North was detained but his last tweet dates back to 3 February.
Afghanistan International, a local news agency, has also reported that he has been kidnapped by the Taliban.
The Washington Post reported that a member of a Taliban Intelligence Unit in Kabul said “several foreign nationals” were arrested for working with western intelligence agencies.