'Voices From Afghanistan' Exhibit Profiled In 'The Washington Post'

"The Post's" Style section highlights the exhibit at the Library of Congress, which showcases some of the thousands of handwritten scrolls and letters sent in by listeners to RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan. More

By Country / Iran

Iran Confirms Soldiers Kidnapped Near Pakistani Border

January 02, 2006

2 January 2006 -- Iran has confirmed reports that nine Iranian soldiers have been kidnapped by a little-known Sunni Muslim rebel group near its border with Pakistan.

Iranian government spokesman Gholam-Hussein Elham said that "the Interior Ministry is seriously and comprehensively pursuing the matter and we hope to solve it in a way to protect their lives."

The soldiers were reported yesterday to have disappeared from their post.

On 31 December, a caller speaking for the Jundollah (Soldiers of God) told the Al-Arabiyah television station that the group wants Tehran to release 16 of its jailed members in exchange for the soldiers.

(Reuters, AFP)