Jordan vow after IS ‘beheading’ of Japan hostage Goto

JORDAN has vowed to do all it can to secure the release of a pilot captured by Islamic State, after a video was released appearing to show the beheading of a Japanese hostage.

Jordan echoed Japan in strongly condemning the murder of Kenji Goto.

The pilot, Lt Moaz al-Kasasbeh, was captured when his plane came down in December on a mission to support the US-led, anti-IS military coalition.

Jordan says it is willing to exchange an Iraqi prisoner for his safe return.

Government spokesman Mohammed al-Momeni told the official Petra news agency the administration was doing “everything it can to save the life and secure the release of its pilot”.

He said: “All state organisations have been mobilised to secure the proof of life that we require so that he can be freed and returned to his home.”

Very little has been heard of Lt Kasasbeh since he fell into the hands of the militants – his family continue to hope and pray for his safety and want their government to do more and to share more of whatever information it may have with them.

They cling to the hope that the killing of Kenji Goto doesn’t necessarily have direct immediate implications for the safety of the young pilot.

The danger for the Jordanian government is that Islamic State may see Lt Kasasbeh as a hostage of particularly high value because of his role in the air campaign and may demand a very high political price for his freedom – if they can prove that he is still alive.