The government released recent photographs Wednesday of four West-ern hostages held by Kashmiri separatists and a tape recording of the captives saying they are alive and well.
The captives all look healthy in the photographs, even though the Al-Faran separatist group had released earlier photos showing two of them wearing bloody bandages and a statement saying they had been wounded in a battle with Indian forces.The captives - an American, two Britons and a German - said the photographs and interviews were taken Friday, five days after the body of a fifth hostage, Hans Christian Ostro, 27, of Oslo, Norway, was found in Kashmir.
"My name is Donald Hutchings. This interview is taking place on August 18, 1995. I am fit, well and have no problems. Jane, I love you," the American hostage said on the tape.