5 Years, 3 Kids Later, Couple Is Freed From Taliban Group

American Caitlan Coleman, family are 'safe and sound'
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 12, 2017 8:49 AM CDT
US-Canadian Family of 5 Freed From Taliban Group
This still image made from a 2013 video shows Caitlan Coleman and Joshua Boyle.   (Coleman family via AP)

An American woman, her Canadian husband, and their three children born during five years in Taliban captivity are finally free. Caitlan Coleman and Josh Boyle, both in their 30s, and their three children were rescued by Pakistani security forces shortly after the family crossed into the country on Wednesday, Pakistan's army says, per CNN. Coleman and Boyle were abducted by the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani Network while touring Afghanistan in 2012, when Coleman was seven months pregnant, reports Fox News. They were last seen with two children in hostage videos, believed to have been filmed in December 2016, in which the pair asked their respective governments to secure their release. "My children have seen their mother defiled," said Coleman, who has since given birth to a third child.

The US government was tracking the family and alerted Pakistani officials when they crossed into Pakistan on Wednesday, reports Fox. Pakistani security forces then intervened. "All hostages were recovered safe and sound and are being repatriated to the country of their origin," the army says. A US official tells NBC News the family is with US Embassy officials in Pakistan. President Trump appeared to hint at the rescue in Coleman's home state of Pennsylvania on Wednesday, per ABC News. "Something happened today, where a country that totally disrespected us called with some very, very important news," he said. "And one of my generals came in. They said, 'You know, I have to tell you, a year ago they would've never done that.' ... This is a country that did not respect us. This is a country that respects us now." (More hostages stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X