ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said that Pakistan facilitated the release of western hostages by the Afghan Taliban.
In a series of tweets, the PM said, "Pak welcomes release of Profs Kevin King & Timothy Weeks in Afghanistan. We appreciate steps taken by all involved to make it possible."
link Imran Khan ✔@ImranKhanPTI link · 42m link link
Pak welcomes release of Profs Kevin King & Timothy Weeks in Afghanistan. We appreciate steps taken by all involved to make it possible. As part of the int community working to bring peace & end the suffering of the Afghan people, Pak has fully supported & facilitated this release
link Imran Khan ✔@ImranKhanPTI link
as part of its policy of supporting initiatives for a negotiated political settlement of the Afghan conflict. We hope this step gives a boost of confidence to all parties involved to re-engage in the peace process. Pakistan remains committed to facilitating this peace procy link link
The premier said that the as part of the international community working to bring peace and end the suffering of the Afghan people, Islamabad fully supports the decision.
The prime minister also said that Pakistan facilitated the release as part of its policy of supporting initiatives for a negotiated political settlement of the Afghan conflict.
"We hope this step gives a boost of confidence to all parties involved to re-engage in the peace process. Pakistan remains committed to facilitating this peace process," PM Imran added.
The Afghan Taliban released two Western hostages in southern Afghanistan Tuesday, handing them over to US forces more than three years after they were abducted in Kabul, insurgent sources and police told AFP.
The release of American Kevin King and Australian Timothy Weeks, both professors at the American University in Kabul, comes one week after President Ashraf Ghani announced that Afghanistan would free three high-ranking Taliban prisoners in an apparent swap that he hoped would help jumpstart peace talks.