US and Australian hostages freed in Taliban prisoner swap

US and Australian hostages freed in Taliban prisoner swap
# 19 November 2019 17:38 (UTC +04:00)

The Afghan Taliban have freed two Western academics held hostage since 2016 in exchange for three imprisoned senior militants, APA reports citing BBC.

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.

The three militants arrived in Qatar from Afghanistan as part of the swap.

Afghan officials say the deal is aimed at restarting talks with the Taliban.

President Ashraf Ghani said last week the decision was "a tough, but important" one and a "humanitarian gesture".

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