Taliban Release Two Western Hostages In Afghanistan
November 19, 2019
4:52 pm
The Taliban handed two Western hostages over to US forces in southern Afghanistan Tuesday, three years after they were abducted, in a swap for three high-ranking insurgent prisoners that could boost peace talks.
The exchange of American Kevin King and Australian Timothy Weeks for the militants — including Anas Haqqani, brother to the Taliban’s deputy leader — was welcomed by both the United States and the insurgents.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the releases “give us hope for the success of intra-Afghan peace negotiations, which the United States stands ready to support.”
