This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-41598936

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Taliban hostage family 'freed by Pakistani troops' Taliban hostage family freed by Pakistani troops
(35 minutes later)
Pakistani soldiers have freed a North American family of five who were being held hostage by the Afghan Taliban, Pakistan's military says. Pakistani soldiers have freed a North American family of five who were being held hostage by the Afghan Taliban.
They were rescued after a US tip-off during an operation near the Afghan border, the army said. Canadian Joshua Boyle and his US wife Caitlan Coleman were kidnapped while backpacking in Afghanistan in 2012. They had three children while in captivity.
The army did not name the family, but Canadian Joshua Boyle and his US wife Caitlan Coleman were kidnapped while backpacking in Afghanistan in 2012. They were rescued after a US tip-off during an operation near the Afghan border, the Pakistani army said.
They are known to have had children while in captivity. US President Donald Trump said it was a "positive moment" for US-Pakistan ties.
"Pak Army recovered five Western hostages including one Canadian, his US national wife and their three children from terrorist custody," an army statement said. "Ms Coleman gave birth to the couple's three children while they were in captivity," Mr Trump said in a White House statement. "Today, they are free."
It added that US intelligence agencies had been tracking the family in Afghanistan, and reported that on 11 October they had moved across the border into the Kurram tribal district of Pakistan. He added: "The Pakistani government's co-operation is a sign that it is honouring America's wishes for it to do more to provide security in the region.
"We welcome media reports that a family including US citizens has been released from captivity," a US embassy spokesman in Islamabad told the AFP news agency. The Pakistani army said US intelligence agencies had been tracking the family in Afghanistan, and reported that on 11 October they had moved across the border into the Kurram tribal district of Pakistan.
In a statement it said: "The success underscores the importance of timely intelligence sharing and Pakistan's continued commitment towards fighting this menace through co-operation between two forces against a common enemy."
Videos of the couple have been released by the Taliban-aligned Haqqani network during their captivity. The insurgent group has been demanding the release of three of its prisoners in Afghanistan.Videos of the couple have been released by the Taliban-aligned Haqqani network during their captivity. The insurgent group has been demanding the release of three of its prisoners in Afghanistan.
The latest video, released last December, showed the couple with two young boys. In it, Ms Coleman - who was pregnant when she and Mr Boyle were abducted - begged for an end to what she called their "Kafkaesque nightmare".The latest video, released last December, showed the couple with two young boys. In it, Ms Coleman - who was pregnant when she and Mr Boyle were abducted - begged for an end to what she called their "Kafkaesque nightmare".
The US has accused Pakistan of not doing enough to counter Islamist militants who operate across its porous border with Afghanistan, and relations between Washington and Islamabad had recently been at a low ebb.