AMMAN, Jordan — Jordan on Thursday demanded proof from Islamic State militants that a Jordanian pilot they are holding is still alive, raising doubts that a rapidly approaching Thursday sunset deadline for a prisoner swap set by the group can be met.
The militants have purportedly threatened to kill the pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, by sunset Iraq time, unless Jordan frees an Iraqi woman from death row and delivers her to the Turkish border.
The woman, Sajida al-Rishawi, was involved in deadly Amman hotel bombings a decade ago.
Jordanian government spokesman Mohammed al-Momani said Thursday afternoon that al-Rishawi is still in Jordan, raising doubts that the sunset deadline, which will pass in less than an hour, can be met.
“We want to see a proof of life of the Jordanian pilot and then we can talk about the exchange between Sajida al-Rishawi and the Jordanian pilot,” he said.
Jordan has said it is willing, in principle, to swap al-Rishawi for the pilot, but has not said if it is negotiating such an exchange. Indirect talks are reportedly being held with the help of tribal and religious leaders in Iraq.
Islamic State militants, who control large areas of Iraq and Syria, appeared to be rebuffing Jordan’s proposed swap in the latest audio message.
The message was read in English by a voice the Japanese government said was likely that of another hostage, Japanese journalist Kenji Goto. It was released online late Wednesday after Jordan offered to swap al-Rishawi for the pilot.
It wasn’t clear what Goto’s fate would be if the woman wasn’t returned.
The message said the deadline was sundown in Mosul, Iraq, the largest city held by the militant group.
The Associated Press could not independently verify the contents of the recording, which was distributed on Twitter by Islamic State-affiliated accounts.
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