Hopes expressed for Jesuit held in Afghanistan

Negotiations ongoing for release of Fr Kumar

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) has reported that a Jesuit priest kidnapped in Afghanistan is alive.

According to the JRS, Fr Alexis Prem Kumar, who was kidnapped from one of its schools in Sohadat in the west of the country on June 2, is now the subject of negotiations towards gaining his freedom by the conclusion of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

"There are things happening. But this is a delicate situation,” JRS spokesman James Stapleton said.

Fr Kumar is the JRS director for Afghanistan and his abduction forced the closure of numerous JRS-backed schools arising from concerns for the safety of other members of the organisation. Schools have now begun to reopen and, in a statement, the JRS said: "We remain committed to accompany our Afghan students and their families in their desire for quality education and re-opening our schools is a clear sign of that commitment.”

Prior to his work in Afghanistan, the Indian-born Fr Kumar worked for the JRS in assisting Sri Lankan refugees in his home state of Tamil Nadu.