Taliban militants in Afghanistan kidnapped a former US Navy diver who was working as a contractor in Afghanistan.
And revealed the magazine "Newsweek" American, that the gunmen kidnapped "Mark Frechers" last Friday in Khost province in Afghanistan. It stated that Freshrichs is an American contractor and former diver in the US Navy.
Although no group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, US officials have told the magazine that they believe the Taliban's "Haqqani" network is responsible for organizing the kidnapping, adding that Frritz has been traveling regularly to Afghanistan since 2012.
According to his account on the "LinkedIn" network for professional communication, Frerechs has worked as a civil engineer in many conflict areas from Iraq to Sudan during the past ten years, where he led consultations on the logistics contracts for governmental and non-governmental organizations.
Newsweek has not been able to determine exactly how Fritzch was kidnapped, but the State Department and Defense, along with the US FBI, are making joint efforts to locate him and release him.
The American magazine indicated that in the event that rescuing the hostage becomes an option for military commanders, the task is usually assigned to the U.S. Special Operations Forces.
"The well-being and safety of US citizens abroad is one of the top priorities of the State Department," said Holly Jensen, a spokeswoman for the FBI's Hostage Editing Brigade, adding that she has no further comment.
It is worth noting that Khost is a region located in the southeastern part of Afghanistan, inhabited by the majority of the ethnic Pashtun, and is adjacent to the border with the tribal areas under federal administration, a developing region between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Over the past few days, US forces have conducted ground and other intelligence-gathering operations to track the whereabouts of Freshrichs on the move in the difficult terrain of Afghanistan, and the harsh winter weather that has prevented US military aircraft from conducting air surveillance missions.
And revealed the magazine "Newsweek" American, that the gunmen kidnapped "Mark Frechers" last Friday in Khost province in Afghanistan. It stated that Freshrichs is an American contractor and former diver in the US Navy.
Although no group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, US officials have told the magazine that they believe the Taliban's "Haqqani" network is responsible for organizing the kidnapping, adding that Frritz has been traveling regularly to Afghanistan since 2012.
According to his account on the "LinkedIn" network for professional communication, Frerechs has worked as a civil engineer in many conflict areas from Iraq to Sudan during the past ten years, where he led consultations on the logistics contracts for governmental and non-governmental organizations.
Newsweek has not been able to determine exactly how Fritzch was kidnapped, but the State Department and Defense, along with the US FBI, are making joint efforts to locate him and release him.
The American magazine indicated that in the event that rescuing the hostage becomes an option for military commanders, the task is usually assigned to the U.S. Special Operations Forces.
"The well-being and safety of US citizens abroad is one of the top priorities of the State Department," said Holly Jensen, a spokeswoman for the FBI's Hostage Editing Brigade, adding that she has no further comment.
It is worth noting that Khost is a region located in the southeastern part of Afghanistan, inhabited by the majority of the ethnic Pashtun, and is adjacent to the border with the tribal areas under federal administration, a developing region between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Over the past few days, US forces have conducted ground and other intelligence-gathering operations to track the whereabouts of Freshrichs on the move in the difficult terrain of Afghanistan, and the harsh winter weather that has prevented US military aircraft from conducting air surveillance missions.
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