Gates Troubled By Afghan Hostage Swap

Defense Secretary Continues U.S. Criticism Of Deal That Freed Taliban Prisoners

(CBS/AP)  Defense Secretary Robert Gates expressed concern Thursday over the Afghan government's decision to free five Taliban prisoners in exchange for the freedom of an Italian journalist.

Asked at a Pentagon news conference whether he was troubled by the deal, given that it implies the Afghan government has let Taliban militants resume their fight against U.S. troops in Afghanistan, Gates replied, "Yes."

"This was between the Afghan government and the Italians," he added. "We are not the sovereign government of Afghanistan, so I think we have influence but we don't have the authority or the ability to dictate decisions to that government."

Daniele Mastrogiacomo, who writes for Italy's La Repubblica newspaper, was freed Monday after two weeks in captivity with the Taliban. His Afghan driver, who was also seized, was beheaded, and the fate of his translator is not known.

The Afghan government called the swap "an exceptional case."

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the United States did not approve of the deal.

"Our views are... very clear: We don't negotiate with terrorists; we don't advise others to do so as well," McCormack said. "The concern I think is obvious, in that you have individuals who are potentially quite dangerous who have been released from prison."

The United States has about 25,000 troops in Afghanistan and has invested tens of billions of dollars since invading and overthrowing the Taliban regime in 2001.

Gates also was asked about the hunt for al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, who had used the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan as a haven for his terrorist network until U.S. forces invaded after the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States. Bin Laden is believed to be hiding in Pakistan.

"I have no idea whether he is alive or not," Gates said. "I assume so until proven otherwise."

Meanwhile, fighting between Afghan forces and Taliban militants in a volatile southern province has left at least 49 militants and seven police dead in what appears to be the biggest independent operation yet by Afghan forces, officials said Friday.

The Afghan army and police carried out the operation in the Gereshk district of Helmand province Thursday morning, and NATO-led troops were not involved, said Gen. Mohammad Zahir Azimi, the Defense Ministry spokesman.

Azimi said 49 Taliban bodies had been found and estimated the overall militant death total at 69, saying the Taliban had buried 10 bodies and taken 10 bodies from the battlefield. Seven police were killed.

The troops were conducting searches on Friday following the Thursday clash, the largest independent operation by the fledgling Afghan security forces, Azimi said.

"They showed the capacity and capability of Afghanistan's National Army, without the help of foreign troops," Azimi said.

Lt. Col. Angela Billings, a spokeswoman for NATO's International Security Assistance Force, confirmed that ISAF troops did not take part in the operation, part of a major joint push by alliance and Afghan troops against the Taliban-inspired insurgency in the country's south.

"There's more and more instances where we're stepping back further and further as we continue with the training, of the army and police, said Billings.

About 4,500 NATO and 1,000 Afghan forces are in and around Helmand province as part of Operation Achilles, launched this month. In recent months Taliban militants and foreign fighters have streamed into Helmand province, the world's leading opium-producing region, according to U.S. and NATO officials.

Operation Achilles has seen heavy fighting between British forces stationed in Helmand province and Taliban militants, but neither NATO or Afghan officials have reported any large-scale casualties among Taliban fighters during the operation.

Violence in Afghanistan has spiked over the last year, with Taliban militants setting off a record number of roadside and suicide attacks. U.S. and NATO officials say they expect violence to again increase this spring and summer.