Freed Turkish Engineer Says Taliban Forces Kidnapped Him Thinking He Was An American

KABUL - Turkish engineer Hasan Onal, who had been kidnapped by Taliban in Afghanistan a month ago and then freed on Saturday, said on Sunday that Taliban forces thought he was an American as they were kidnapping him.
Onal, who was staying in Turkish forces headquarters of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), said that when Taliban learned he was Turkish, they were surprised and then treated him well.
Noting that he was taken good care as he was Turkish and Muslim throughout 30 days, Onal said that this stemmed from Turkish-Afghan friendship.
(GC-AÖ) 01.12.2003