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Jordanian pilot's fate uncertain in Islamic State hostage swap

By JC Finley
Japanese hostage Kenji Goto holds a photo of Jordanian pilot Lt. Moaz al-Kasasbeh, who was captured by the Islamic State after his plane went down in Syria. YouTube screenshot
Japanese hostage Kenji Goto holds a photo of Jordanian pilot Lt. Moaz al-Kasasbeh, who was captured by the Islamic State after his plane went down in Syria. YouTube screenshot

AMMAN, Jordan, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Despite a hostage exchange agreed to by the Islamic State and the government of Jordan, it remains unclear who exactly IS plans to release.

The Jordanian government has been in negotiations to secure the release of Jordanian pilot Lt. Moaz al-Kasasbeh, who was captured by IS after his plane went down in Syria.

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But IS has made no mention of releasing Jordan's pilot. Instead, it has proposed a swap between Japanese hostage Kenji Goto and Sajida al-Rishawi, a convicted terrorist on death row in Jordan.

IS has posted a series of videos purportedly of Japanese hostage Kenji Goto arranging the prisoner exchange.

In a video posted by IS on Wednesday, Goto relayed a warning that if al-Rishawi "is not ready for exchange for my life at the Turkish border by Thursday sunset," the Jordanian pilot "will be killed immediately."

As the deadline neared, the Jordanian government issued a statement demanding proof that Kasasbeh is still alive.

"Rishawi is still in Jordan and the exchange will happen once we receive the proof of life that we asked for."

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So far, IS has not released any evidence that Kasasbeh is still alive following his Dec. 24 capture.

"I fear that this is the last chance for my husband and we now have only a few hours left to secure his release and the life of Lt. Mu'ath al-Kaseasbeh," Goto's wife, Rinko, said in a statement posted Thursday. "I beg the Jordanian and Japanese Government to understand that the fates of both men are in their hands."

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