The American and Australian hostages that were released by the Taliban are now receiving medical care at a U.S. Air Force base in Germany, and will be reunited with their families.
American professor at the American University in Kabul, Kevin King, and his Australian colleague, Timothy Weeks, were welcomed at Ramstein Air Force base in Germany by U.S. Ambassador Richard Grenell and Australian Ambassador Lynette Wood after they arrived on Wednesday night.
King, 63, and Weeks, 50, were taken to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center for examination and medical care as part of their reintegration process, according to Associated Press.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison expressed his joy on Twitter over the hostages’ release. He said Weeks’ family had “asked the Australian government to convey their relief that their long ordeal is over, and their gratitude to all those who have contributed to Tim’s safe return.”
Tim’s family has asked for privacy. They have asked the Australian Government to convey their relief that their long ordeal is over, and their gratitude to all those who have contributed to Tim’s safe return.
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) November 19, 2019
Grenell told Fox News that he gave King an American flag when they met at Ramstein, saying, “we never forgot about you.”
“I know that,” King replied, “and that is what sustained me all these years.”
The two professors were kidnapped in 2016 only to be released by the Taliban terrorist group on Nov. 18 after the Afghan government freed three militant commanders.
King and Weeks were held for more than three years before being released. They were abducted in August 2016 while leaving the campus of the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul.
Their freedom came hours after the Afghan government freed three Taliban prisoners and sent them to Qatar. They included Anas Haqqani, the younger brother of the Taliban’s deputy Sirajuddin Haqqani, who also leads the fearsome Haqqani network. The other two were Hajji Malik Khan, an uncle of Haqqani and a Haqqani lieutenant, Hafiz Abdul Rashid.
A Taliban statement said the prisoner exchange was a good step “for building trust” and something that “can help in peace process.”
In a statement, the American University of Afghanistan said: “AUAF welcomes the news of the release of our colleagues, Kevin King and Timothy Weeks, who had been held hostage since August 7, 2016.”
Epoch Times reporter Zachary Stieber and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
