German Kidnapped

The 42-year-old German citizen had reportedly been living in Afghanistan since 2003 and was a convert to Islam. According to various media reports he was abducted by armed gunmen on Sunday, Dec. 16.

"We are pursuing a tip at the moment and are trying to clarify the situation," German Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Julia Gross said Monday.

Gross refused to comment further on the case. Afghan officials confirmed Monday that the kidnapping had taken place, according to the Associated Press.

Hostage had high profile in Afghanistan

German public broadcaster ARD said it had received confirmation from the Green Helmets that one of its aid workers had been kidnapped. The Munich-based daily Süddeutsche Zeitung reported the man is a Bavarian who had settled in Afghanistan's western Herat province.

"He decided to stay in Herat and married an Afghan woman," Green Helmets founder Rupert Neudeck told the Associated Press. "We are very worried."

Afghanistan's Mnister of Commerce and Industry Amin Farhang said he got to know the German carpenter through the man's work to get official government recognition for the aid organization. The men became friends, Farhang told the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung.

"I know him personally," Farhang said. "He is a very nice, very engaged German Muslim."

Farhang said he would do everything possible to make sure the man was released. Farhang said he didn't believe the man was kidnapped by the Taliban, but rather by a criminal gang wanting money.

A German engineer was kidnapped in Afghanistan in July. He was released after three months, although a second man taken hostage with him was killed during captivity. The German government said Rudolf Blechschmidt was kidnapped by a criminal gang, although the former hostage said the Taliban was involved.

Germany remains involved in Afghanistan

The German government has repeatedly said it doesn't pay ransom money to free kidnapped nationals. Yet it's unclear if promises are made during secret negotiations and media report cite anonymous sources alleging Berlin has made ransom payments in the past.

Germany has some 3,000 troops in Afghanistan as part of an international peacekeeping mission. There has been concern that Germany's involvement makes it a target for terrorist attacks. Last month, a group calling itself the Global Islamic Media Front released a video which threatened attacks on Germany and Austria if the two countries did not pull troops from Afghanistan.