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US family seeks pregnant daughter missing in Afghanistan US family seeks pregnant daughter missing in Afghanistan
(10 days later)
The family of an ailing, pregnant American woman missing in Afghanistan with her Canadian husband has broken months of silence over the case t0 make public appeals for the couple's safe return.The family of an ailing, pregnant American woman missing in Afghanistan with her Canadian husband has broken months of silence over the case t0 make public appeals for the couple's safe return.
James Coleman, the father of Caitlan Coleman, 27, said she was due to deliver in January and needed urgent medical attention for a liver ailment that required regular checkups. He said he and his wife, Lyn, last heard from their son-in-law Josh on 8 October from an internet cafe in what Josh described as an "unsafe" part of Afghanistan.James Coleman, the father of Caitlan Coleman, 27, said she was due to deliver in January and needed urgent medical attention for a liver ailment that required regular checkups. He said he and his wife, Lyn, last heard from their son-in-law Josh on 8 October from an internet cafe in what Josh described as an "unsafe" part of Afghanistan.
The Colemans asked that Josh be identified by his first name only to protect his privacy.The Colemans asked that Josh be identified by his first name only to protect his privacy.
The couple had embarked on a journey last July that took them to Russia, the central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, and then finally to Afghanistan.The couple had embarked on a journey last July that took them to Russia, the central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, and then finally to Afghanistan.
Neither the Taliban nor any other militant group has said it is holding the couple, leading some to believe they were kidnapped. But no ransom demand has been made.Neither the Taliban nor any other militant group has said it is holding the couple, leading some to believe they were kidnapped. But no ransom demand has been made.
"Our goal is to get them back safely and healthy," the father said by phone. "I don't know what kind of care they're getting or not getting," he added."Our goal is to get them back safely and healthy," the father said by phone. "I don't know what kind of care they're getting or not getting," he added.
"We're just an average family and we don't have connections with anybody and we don't have a lot of money."We're just an average family and we don't have connections with anybody and we don't have a lot of money.
"We appeal to whoever is caring for her to show compassion and allow Caity, Josh and our unborn grandbaby to come home.""We appeal to whoever is caring for her to show compassion and allow Caity, Josh and our unborn grandbaby to come home."
Coleman, of York County, Pennsylvania, said he was not sure what the couple were doing in Afghanistan. But he surmised they may have been seeking to help Afghans by joining an aid group after touring the region. He described his daughter as "naive" and "adventuresome", with a humanitarian bent.Coleman, of York County, Pennsylvania, said he was not sure what the couple were doing in Afghanistan. But he surmised they may have been seeking to help Afghans by joining an aid group after touring the region. He described his daughter as "naive" and "adventuresome", with a humanitarian bent.
He said the last withdrawals from the couple's account were made on 8 and 9 October in Kabul.He said the last withdrawals from the couple's account were made on 8 and 9 October in Kabul.
"He [Josh] just said they were heading into the mountains – wherever that was, I don't know," the father said. "They're both kind of naive, always have been in my view. Why they actually went to Afghanistan, I'm not sure … I assume it was more of the same, getting to know the local people, if they could find an NGO or someone they could work with in a little way.""He [Josh] just said they were heading into the mountains – wherever that was, I don't know," the father said. "They're both kind of naive, always have been in my view. Why they actually went to Afghanistan, I'm not sure … I assume it was more of the same, getting to know the local people, if they could find an NGO or someone they could work with in a little way."
Both the US state department and Canadian foreign affairs ministry say they are looking into the disappearance.Both the US state department and Canadian foreign affairs ministry say they are looking into the disappearance.
"Canada is pursuing all appropriate channels and officials are in close contact with local authorities," Canadian foreign affairs ministry spokeswoman Chrystiane Roy said on Friday, calling the incident a "possible kidnap"."Canada is pursuing all appropriate channels and officials are in close contact with local authorities," Canadian foreign affairs ministry spokeswoman Chrystiane Roy said on Friday, calling the incident a "possible kidnap".
It was not known whether the silence over the case by US and Canadian officials and, until now, by the Coleman family was because of ongoing negotiations to seek their release. But information blackouts have kept some similar cases quiet in the past in an attempt to not further endanger those missing.It was not known whether the silence over the case by US and Canadian officials and, until now, by the Coleman family was because of ongoing negotiations to seek their release. But information blackouts have kept some similar cases quiet in the past in an attempt to not further endanger those missing.
According to Hazrat Janan, head of the provincial council in Afghanistan's Wardak province, the two were abducted in Wardak in an area about 25 miles (40km) west of the capital, Kabul. They were passing through Wardak while travelling from Ghazni province south of Kabul to the capital.According to Hazrat Janan, head of the provincial council in Afghanistan's Wardak province, the two were abducted in Wardak in an area about 25 miles (40km) west of the capital, Kabul. They were passing through Wardak while travelling from Ghazni province south of Kabul to the capital.
Wardak province, despite its proximity to Kabul, is a rugged, mountainous haven for the Taliban and travel along its roads is dangerous. Foreigners who do not travel with military escorts take a substantial risk.Wardak province, despite its proximity to Kabul, is a rugged, mountainous haven for the Taliban and travel along its roads is dangerous. Foreigners who do not travel with military escorts take a substantial risk.
Janan said they were believed to have been taken from one district in Wardak to a second and then into Ghazni.Janan said they were believed to have been taken from one district in Wardak to a second and then into Ghazni.
"After that, the trail went dead," Janan said."After that, the trail went dead," Janan said.
He said it was suspected the kidnappers were Taliban because criminal gangs would have been likely to ask for a ransom.He said it was suspected the kidnappers were Taliban because criminal gangs would have been likely to ask for a ransom.
When the AP contacted Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid about the missing couple two months ago, he said the group had carried out an investigation and found no Taliban members were involved.When the AP contacted Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid about the missing couple two months ago, he said the group had carried out an investigation and found no Taliban members were involved.
"We do not know about these two foreigners," he said."We do not know about these two foreigners," he said.
Nato officials said they had no current information on the case, which was turned over to the US state department after it was determined the couple were not affiliated with foreign military forces.Nato officials said they had no current information on the case, which was turned over to the US state department after it was determined the couple were not affiliated with foreign military forces.
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