White House welcomes release of two Western hostages by Afghanistan Taliban

The Afghanistan Taliban have freed two Western hostages in exchange for three imprisoned senior militants.

Welcoming the move, the White House said in a statement: " Today, the United States welcomes the release of Professors Kevin King and Timothy Weeks. King, an American, and Weeks, an Australian, were professors at the American University of Afghanistan when they were kidnapped at gunpoint in August 2016. Both men were successfully recovered today and are currently receiving medical care and other support from the United States Government. We pray for the full recovery of both men, who endured significant hardship during their captivity, and wish them well as they reunite with their loved ones in the near future."

"We thank the Afghan government for its actions, in the spirit of our partnership that enabled the freeing of the hostages. President Ashraf Ghani has taken many courageous steps in the cause of peace. He extended an offer to talk to the Taliban without preconditions almost two years ago. Furthermore, he called for a ceasefire during the Muslim holiday of Eid-al-Fitr in 2018, which the Taliban reciprocated, and which demonstrated the Afghans’ overwhelming desire for peace," it said.

The two released Western hostages were identified as American Kevin King and Australian Timothy Weeks.

They were kidnapped three years ago outside the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul where they worked as professors.

Sources told TOLOnews that the handover took place in Zabul province.

Kevin King, 63, from the US, and Timothy Weeks, 50, from Australia, were professors at AUAF who were abducted by the Haqqani Network in Kabul in August 2016, reported the newsportal.