ROME, March 30 (Reuters) - An aid group which helped secure the release of an Italian kidnapped by the Taliban criticised the Italian government on Friday for doing nothing for an Afghan employee arrested in Afghanistan.

Rahamtullah Hanafi, who operates the Afghan hospitals set up by Italian charity Emergency, was arrested after negotiating the release of reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo in exchange for five Taliban guerrillas who had been imprisoned by Afghan forces.

It has not been made clear why Hanafi was arrested.

Gino Strada, the head of Emergency, said the Italian government had a duty to pressure Kabul to release Hanafi after the charity had negotiated on its behalf with the Taliban.

"We find it indecent and shameful that they haven't had the courage to officially ask the Afghan government, in writing, to free Hanafi," Strada told a news conference in Milan.

Mastrogiacomo, a reporter for Italian daily La Repubblica, was captured by the Taliban in Helmund province along with two Afghans, a driver and a translator.

The driver was beheaded and the Taliban have demanded the release of a further two of their comrades in exchange for the interpreter, Adjmal Nasqhbandi.

Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema denied the accusation he had done nothing to help Hanafi.

"Even if we're talking about an Afghan and not an Italian citizen, the government had taken several steps to ask (Kabul) for explanations," he said. "We're still waiting for a reply."

The exchange of Taliban prisoners for the Italian reporter has been criticised by the U.S. and British governments and some journalist groups have expressed concerns it will make reporters in war zones more of a kidnap target.

Former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi rounded on Italy's centre left government over the affair. He told supporters at a rally on Friday: "It's open season on westerners if with every kidnap some terrorists get released."

(Additional reporting by Ilaria Polleschi in Milan)

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