Joe Biden urged to help secure release of abducted US citizen in Afghanistan

Ahead of one-year anniversary, supporters of Mark Frerichs are demanding US government help in release of  American citizen, who went missing in Afghanistan. Frerichs, a civil engineer, is believed to have been abducted by members of Haqqani network on January 31, 2020. Frerichs' family members and supporters have called on Biden administration to reverse previous administration's decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. 

Read: Iran, Taliban Officials Say US Pushing War In Afghanistan

'Frerichs is alive' 

Frerichs' sister Charlene Cakora, while speaking to Associated Press, said y believe her bror is still alive and in captivity of terrorists closely associated with Taliban, with whom US government signed a peace deal last year. Cakora has urged President Joe Biden to t withdraw troops from Afghanistan until her bror is rescued. As per peace deal, US government plans to withdraw American forces from Afghanistan by May 2021. 

Read: Afghan Welcomes Joe Biden's Plan To Review US-Taliban Deal

However, Joe Biden has vowed to review peace deal because of continuing terrorism activities in Afghanistan by members of Taliban, who had promised to reduce violence in country while signing peace deal with Americans in Doha last February. Trump administration has already withdrawn thousands of troops from Afghanistan, bringing total number of soldiers present in war-torn country down to 2,500. 

Read: Taliban Terrorists Kill 13 Local Police Personnel In Herat Province: Report

Frerichs was abducted last year while working on a civil engineering project in Afghanistan. US Navy veteran was allegedly taken away by members of Haqqani network, a group close to Taliban. Taliban, however, has said y have found zero evidence of Frerichs being in captivity of one of ir subordinate groups. After his abduction, US forces had raided a vill in Khost province, from where Frerichs' cellphone was giving signals, but in vain. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) last year anunced a reward of $1 million for any information about Frerichs. 

Read: Afghan Peace Talks Continue Amid Doubts Over Taliban's Change Of Ideologies

(Im Credit: AP)