The Taliban have captured a British colonel.
Looking mournful, and dragged around by a lead, the militant group's captive is likely to tug heartstrings the world over, but the colonel probably unlikely to be a useful bargaining tool for his captors.
Because Colonel is a dog. A military dog. But still, a dog.
The Taliban have captured a very high ranking dog
A spokesman for the terrorist group said the animal was taken during a battle around a month ago in Laghman province, to the east of the capital, Kabul.
Zabiullah Mujahid said the dog was being looked after and was in good health, and had been named Colonel by his captors.
In a video sent via email by the regime, a brown short-haired dog can be seen on a lead attached to a harness while long-haired men bearing guns stand around.
The Nato-led coalition in Afghanistan confirmed that one of its military dogs went missing during a mission in December, and was confirmed to have belonged to British forces at a Pentagon briefing.
Stay strong, colonel.