US helicopters and hundreds of troops were searching today for soldiers who went missing in Afghanistan just before a helicopter coming to their aid was shot down, while the Taliban claimed to be holding one American.
US forces looking for members of the reconnaissance team since Tuesday's helicopter crash in mountainous Kunar province bordering Pakistan have no reason to believe any of them have been killed or captured, US spokesmen said.
Col. Jim Yonts said he could neither confirm nor deny a claim by Taliban spokesman Abdul Latif Hakimi that insurgents killed seven US “spies” before the Chinook helicopter was shot down. All 16 Special Forces soldiers aboard were killed.
Today Hakimi, whose information has often proved unreliable, said guerrillas in Kunar captured an American soldier on Wednesday who had been aboard the helicopter when it crashed.
“He was trying to escape up the mountain when our mujahideen (holy warriors) caught him,” he said.
Asked what evidence the Taliban had that they were holding a US soldier, he replied: “The Americans have announced themselves that some of their soldiers are missing.
“We don't need to tell lies. When we kill him, we will tell the Americans to go and get the body and that will be the proof.“
While Hakimi's information has often been inaccurate in the past, he has appeared well informed about the downing of the helicopter, although the US military has identified the Kunar insurgents as more feared al-Qaeda fighters rather than Taliban.
Another US spokesman, Lt. Col. Jerry O'Hara, said there was no evidence soldiers had been killed, captured, hurt or were hiding out. “The only thing we do know is they are missing.“
He declined to comment on a BBC report that quoted military officials at the main US base in Kunar as saying they had had “several indications” the troops were still alive.
The BBC said a number of Afghan guides working with the US military were also missing.