Japan says Afghans learn hostage whereabouts

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

TOKYO (AFP) — Japan said Wednesday that authorities know where Taliban militants are holding a Japanese aid worker abducted in eastern Afghanistan, expressing hope that he would be freed as soon as possible.

Kazuya Ito, 31, was kidnapped on Tuesday as he headed to carry out his daily inspection of an irrigation project being built by his employer, the Peshawar-kai non-governmental group, officials said.

Afghan authorities "appear to have determined his whereabouts," government spokesman Nobutaka Machimura told a news conference in Tokyo.

"We are continuing to collect information through the Afghan authorities but his safety has yet to be confirmed," said Machimura, the chief cabinet secretary.

"We will do our best so that Mr Ito is rescued as soon as...