Taliban hostage family freed by pakistani troops bbc news. Hundreds of hostages freed after rare joint istaliban attack in afghanistan august 08, 2017 23. Afghan special forces rescue 62 hostages from taliban. Waco, texas compass imprisoned christian aid workers heather mercer and dayna curry were freed from afghanistans taliban as the country fell, city by city, to opposition forces. Afghan special forces rescue 62 hostages from taliban prison. Nov 19, 2019 taliban free 2 hostages in exchange for 3 militants an american and an australian have been freed in afghanistan as part of a prisoner swap with the taliban. Kidnapped professors released after three years in exchange for. Nov 24, 2004 the independent books puzzles indy100. Freed christian hostages recount ordeal the christian post. Boyle was captured with his wife while hiking in afghanistan and had been held by the haqqani network, a. American and australian hostages freed in afghan prisoner. Hundreds of hostages freed after rare joint istaliban.
The hostages american kevin king and australian timothy weeks were released in an area of southern afghanistan heavily controlled by the taliban, ending more than three years of captivity. Taliban free 2 hostages in exchange for 3 militants. American woman, family are freed from afghan captors the. One of the hostages was released in march this year, while the fate of the rest of their colleagues remained unclear. American kevin king and australian timothy weeks were professors at american university in kabul when they were abducted in 2016. Joshua boyle after returning from afghanistan on october. Jun 03, 2012 how the british hostages were rescued in afghanistan high above the desolate valleys of badakhshan in eastern afghanistan a predator drone, flying unseen and unheard, fixed the location of. Americans freed in afghanistan ask prayer for philippine hostages.
Two western hostages are freed in afghanistan in deal with. Americans freed in afghanistan ask prayer for philippine. Canadian hostage freed from taliban is charged with sexual. The 21 south koreans held hostage in afghanistan by the taliban recounted their six weeks of captivity on wednesday, revealing the harsh conditions and numerous beatings they endured before being freed nearly two weeks ago. Oct 12, 2017 the family was freed after a tipoff from us intelligence agencies that they had been moved into pakistan from afghanistan on wednesday. Afghan forces rescue 149 hostages taken by taliban in bus. While confusion surrounded the precise circumstances of the release of the three hostages, the family of ms. Ottawa joshua boyle, the canadian man who was held hostage along with his american wife in afghanistan for five years, has been arrested and faces 15 criminal charges, court records show. Kidnapped in kabul on november 28, 2012, he resurfaced in wardak province and was freed in kabul on april 8, 20. On november 15, the women, along with the six other imprisoned aid workers, were freed from prison by antitaliban forces and flown to safety in islamabad, pakistan. Taliban release two western hostages in exchange for. North american hostages rescued from talibanlinked group in.
Southern zabul province, where the two professors were freed, is heavily controlled by the taliban and vast parts of it have long been a nogo area for the government. Afghanistan has freed three taliban figures in exchange for the release of. Hostages were freed by taliban in prisoner swap news the. We are relieved and grateful that our colleagues are now back with us unharmed. Kabul two female foreign aid workers kidnapped last month were freed, along with two local afghans, in a joint special forces operation in northeastern afghanistan. A combined effort by the united states and pakistani governments freed an american woman, her canadian husband, and their three children after being held captive for five years in pakistan. Taliban say they freed 2 hostages, american and an australian, in afghanistan after release of 3 top insurgents us, australian hostages freed by taliban in prisoner swap the san diego uniontribune. On wednesday morning australian time the weeks family released a statement thanking the australian, us and afghan governments for their role. The parents of an american woman freed with her family after five years of captivity say they are elated, but also angry at their sonin law for taking their daughter to afghanistan.
Mar 10, 2003 waco, texas compass imprisoned christian aid workers heather mercer and dayna curry were freed from afghanistan s taliban as the country fell, city by city, to opposition forces. Taliban free 2 hostages in exchange for 3 militants an american and an australian have been freed in afghanistan as part of a prisoner swap with the. The couple were kidnapped whilst backpacking in afghanistan. The parents of an american woman freed with her family after five years of captivity say they are elated, but also angry at their son in law for taking their daughter to afghanistan. Nov 19, 2019 the taliban have released an american and an australian held hostage since 2016 in exchange for three prominent members of the militant group who were set free by the afghan government and flown. Heather marie mercer born 1976 is an american who was one of 24 aid workers arrested in august 2001 by the taliban in afghanistan in connection with their work with the germanybased christian aid organization shelter now international. American kevin king and australian timothy weeks were released three years after being kidnapped outside the american university of afghanistan in kabul where they worked as professors. Western professors freed in prisoner swap with taliban news dw. The family was freed after a tipoff from us intelligence agencies that they had been moved into pakistan from afghanistan on wednesday. The afghan taliban have freed two western academics held hostage since 2016 in exchange for three imprisoned senior militants. Western hostages freed by afghan taliban in swap for top. Two western hostages held for more than three years by taliban forces in afghanistan were freed today in southeastern zabul province in.
Two western hostages held for more than three years by taliban forces in afghanistan were freed today in southeastern zabul province in exchange for three taliban commanders. Two icrc hostages freed the icrc head of delegation in afghanistan, monica zanarelli said in a statement. Yvonne ridley informed her about september 11 and the subsequent military actions against the taliban regime in afghanistan. Islamabad ap the taliban on tuesday freed an american and an australian held hostage since 2016 in exchange for three top taliban figures a move that the insurgent group asserted could help rekindle talks to end afghanistans 18year war. How the british hostages were rescued in afghanistan high above the desolate valleys of badakhshan in eastern afghanistan a predator drone, flying unseen and unheard, fixed the location of. Canadian joshua boyle and his us wife caitlan coleman were kidnapped while. Eric damfreville and celine cordelier, workers for terre denfance, were kidnapped with three afghan aid. Dramatic rescue frees canadianamerican hostages held by. Nov 19, 2019 two western hostages are freed in afghanistan in deal with taliban the two western teachers held by the taliban are safe with american forces, officials say, and three taliban figures are freed.
Freed taliban hostage says his captors raped his wife cnn. Afghan forces rescue 149 hostages taken by taliban in bus ambush. North american hostages rescued from talibanlinked group. Us and australian hostages freed in taliban prisoner swap bbc. Afghanistan taliban commanders freed in swap for indian. The hostages, both university professors, were kidnapped in 2016. She, along with seven other western missionaries and their sixteen afghan coworkers, was arrested on august 3, 2001, and put on trial for violating the.
South korea agreed to stick by its decision to withdraw its 200 noncombat troops from afghanistan, who do mostly engineering and medical work. Nov 19, 2019 islamabad ap the taliban on tuesday freed an american and an australian held hostage since 2016 in exchange for three top taliban figures a move that the insurgent group asserted could help rekindle talks to end afghanistans 18year war. Joshua boyle, freed from taliban captivity with his family, says their captors authorized the killing of one of his children and raped his wife, caitlan coleman. Nov 20, 2019 the afghan taliban released american and australian university professors held hostage for more than three years on tuesday, afghan government officials said, completing a delayed prisoner swap and raising hopes for a revival of peace talks. The taliban has issued a statement saying they released 10 afghan soldiers along with the two hostages. Oct, 2017 a combined effort by the united states and pakistani governments freed an american woman, her canadian husband, and their three children after being held captive for five years in pakistan. Islamabad ap the taliban on tuesday freed an american and an australian held hostage since 2016 in exchange for three top taliban figures a move that the insurgent group asserted could help rekindle talks to end afghanistan s 18year war. Taliban and is fighters have regularly clashed in afghanistan over the past two years, but security sources say they have teamed up in the past to strike afghan forces in certain areas. While confusion surrounded the precise circumstances.
Breakingthe two western lecturers held by the taliban are steady with american forces, officials dispute, and three taliban figures are freed. Pakistani soldiers have freed a north american family of five who were being held hostage by the afghan taliban. Sep 09, 2019 two western hostages, one american and one australian, were freed by the taliban after more than three years in captivity in a prisoner exchange that could spur resumption of negotiations to end. Taliban hostages kevin king and timothy weeks freed in prisoner. The taliban have released an american and an australian held hostage since 2016 in exchange for three prominent members of the militant group who were set free by the afghan government and flown.
The afghan taliban released american and australian university professors held hostage for more than three years on tuesday, afghan government officials said, completing a delayed prisoner swap and raising hopes for a revival of peace talks. Taliban hostages kevin king and timothy weeks freed in. A second french hostage, age 30 and a development aid worker, was also freed, on the same day, by his kidnappers in kabul, a spokesman for frances foreign ministry said, on april 8, 20. Some afghans disaster it receivedt relieve renew peace talks. Aug 20, 2018 afghan forces rescue 149 hostages taken by taliban in bus ambush. Ottawa a canadian man freed in 2017 nearly five years after being abducted in afghanistan has been arrested in ottawa and faces several. Two western hostages are freed in afghanistan in deal with taliban the two western teachers held by the taliban are safe with american forces, officials say, and three taliban figures are freed. Jan 02, 2018 ottawa a canadian man freed in 2017 nearly five years after being abducted in afghanistan has been arrested in ottawa and faces several charges, including assault and forcible confinement. Hostages freed in afghanistan kabul asianewsagencies three u. Zhang fengqiang, an engineer, and wu yulin, a worker, were kidnapped along with their two afghan drivers and two afghan guards by the taliban on january 16, 2010 as they were working on a road project in afghanistans northern province of faryab. Western hostages freed by afghan taliban in swap for top commanders.
Hostage freed by taliban now faces assault charges. The release of hostages came after afghan special forces amassed and launched an operation to retake the village. Oct 14, 2017 joshua boyle, freed from taliban captivity with his family, says their captors authorized the killing of one of his children and raped his wife, caitlan coleman. Eric damfreville and celine cordelier, workers for terre d enfance, were kidnapped with three afghan aid. Hundreds of hostages freed after rare joint istaliban attack. But the official, who was authorized to disclose details of the operation on the condition of. But a homecoming worship service showed they havent forgotten believers still in captivity. Western professors freed in prisoner swap with taliban dw 19.
Forty one foreigners were among the 160 freed hostages, according to the spokesperson for the interior ministry of afghanistan najib danish, speaking at. Hostages were freed by taliban in prisoner swap news. Bel canto by ann patchett, merry christmas, alex cross by james patterson, one breath away by heather gudenkauf, bull. The hostages american kevin king and australian timothy weeks were released in an area.
The haqqani network has in recent years carried out largescale attacks on afghan civilians. Oct 12, 2017 webvtt 3good morning, im lori burkholder. Report american kevin king and australian timothy weeks were kidnapped in august 2016 from outside the american university of afghanistan in kabul where both worked as professors. The taliban has released two western professors who had been held hostage for the past three years in exchange for three highranking militants, in a prisoner swap that could pave the way for.
Taliban free us and australian hostages in prisoner swap. Parents of freed afghanistan hostage angry at soninlaw. The hostages american kevin king and australian timothy weeks were released in an area of southern afghanistan heavily controlled by the taliban, ending more than three years of. Ottawa joshua boyle, the canadian man who was held hostage along with his american wife in afghanistan for five years, has been arrested. Us, australian hostages freed by taliban in prisoner swap. Freed taliban hostage caitlan coleman says husband was an abusive taliban sympathizer. The afghan taliban released american and australian university professors held hostage for more than three years on tuesday, afghan. It is believed to be based in pakistan and is part of the taliban in afghanistan. Nov 19, 2019 western hostages freed by afghan taliban in swap for top commanders.
Afghan security forces had freed 149 hostages and at. How the british hostages were rescued in afghanistan telegraph. Their abduction and the killings of our six colleagues were emotional agony for all of us, especially for their families and friends. Us and australian hostages freed in taliban prisoner swap. Taliban free us and australian hostages in prisoner swap world. Zhang fengqiang, an engineer, and wu yulin, a worker, were kidnapped along with their two afghan drivers and two afghan guards by the taliban on january 16, 2010 as they were working on a road project in afghanistan s northern province of faryab. In this may 3, 2019, photo, afghan president ashraf ghani speaks on the last day of the. Islamabad ap the taliban on tuesday freed an american and an. But the swap was abruptly postponed, with the taliban then shifting their hostages to a new location. Two western hostages are freed in afghanistan in deal with taliban. Kabul, afghanistan the taliban on tuesday freed two westerners they had held for more than three years in exchange for the release of. American kevin king and australian timothy weeks were kidnapped in august 2016 from outside the american university of.
Two western hostages, one american and one australian, were freed by the taliban after more than three years in captivity in a prisoner exchange. How the british hostages were rescued in afghanistan. Nov 19, 2019 the hostages american kevin king and australian timothy weeks were released in an area of southern afghanistan heavily controlled by the taliban, ending more than three years of captivity. Other former hostages of the haqqani network, including the american soldier bowe bergdahl and the journalist david rohde, were also moved.
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