Afghan Taliban demands France release detainees in exchange for 2 captured journalists

Taliban wants detainee swap with France

KABUL — The Taliban are demanding the French government free detainees in exchange for two French journalists kidnapped in Afghanistan in December.

In a statement Monday, the Taliban say they submitted a list of “most ordinary detainees” to the French and if they don’t respond quickly the lives of two hostages would be in danger.

The pair disappeared Dec. 30 along with two or three Afghan employees while traveling northeast of Kabul. The French government in the past has said it is aware of the kidnappings and is cooperating with NATO forces to obtain the release but has stated little publicly about the abductions.

The French government has not identified the journalists beyond giving their first names as Stephane and Herve.