It looks like the murder of translator Adjmal Nakshbandi on Easter Day has struck a raw nerve in Afghanistan: according to Reuters, a leading newspaper, Arman-e-Millie, has called on the government of President Hamid Karzai to begin executing Taliban prisoners instead of releasing them in hostage swaps.

"Martyring Ajmal Naqshbandi and their other crimes happen as the government shows extreme leniency towards Taliban prisoners," the daily Arman-e-Millie said in an editorial.

"There has been no implementation of punishment for any criminal and killer Taliban who has been sentenced to heavy punishment by the judicial authorities," it said. "From now on, criminal Taliban should be executed."

The Karzai government has been criticized for allegedly bowing to pressure from Italy to release five captured Taliban fighters in exchange for the life of kidnapped journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo, abducted in Helmand province on March 6, and freed 2 weeks later. Nakshbandi was supposed to freed as part of the Mastrogiacomo deal, but the Taliban held on to him, demanding two more prisoners be released. The government refused, and Adjmal was beheaded this past Sunday.

Karzai condemned the execution and said Naqshbandi's release was part of the deal involving the Italian journalist.

"While efforts were going on from the government side for his release, this human killer group murdered him mercilessly," a presidential palace statement quoted Karzai as saying.

Meanwhile, the Taliban hold at least 10 other captives, and have threatened to start executing them if more Taliban prisoners are not released. An Afghan doctor, identified only as Khalilullah, is scheduled to be killed on April 15. Four other medical workers were abducted with Khalilulah on March 27. Two French aid workers, Eric Damfreville and a woman identified as Salma, were kidnapped along with three Afghan assistants from the Terre d'Enfance school on April 3. We continue to pray for their safe release and for the safety of all humanitarian workers in Afghanistan.

UPDATE: An opposition senator in the Italian Parliament has called for the impeachment of Prime Minister Romano Prodi over the handling of the Mastrogiacomo abduction. It was revealed on Monday that the government paid $2 million in ransom for kidnapped photographer Gabriele Torsello last fall, and that Italy had strong-armed Pakistan into forcing Afghanistan to go along with the prisoner swap for Mastrogiacomo. Prodi does not deny it, but says that he followed guidelies set by the previous administration of Silvio Berlusconi.

"The negotiations for the freeing of hostages have been conducted in a correct way and in tight collaboration with the Afghan government," it said. "Our priority has always been one: saving human lives."

An opposition senator, Roberto Calderoli, accused the Government of discriminating between Italian and Afghan hostages and called for Mr Prodi to be impeached.

"The Government negotiated in a discriminatory fashion, rushing to save what they saw as the A-league hostage and leaving the other, second-class captives to their tragic destiny," he told reporters.

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