Recovery of Canadian-American family 'positive moment' in Pak-US ties: Trump

Washington D.C. [United States], Oct 13 (ANI): United States President Donald Trump has termed the safe recovery of the Canadian-American couple from Taliban captivity as a 'positive moment' for country's relations with Pakistan.

The Pakistan Army, aided by intelligence agencies, recovered the Canadian-American couple and their children, who were captured by terrorists from Afghanistan and kept as hostages there since 2012, said Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement, the media wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces.

"Today they are free. This is a positive moment for our country's relationship with Pakistan. The Pakistani government's cooperation is a sign that it is honoring America's wishes for it to do more to provide security in the region," Trump said in a statement issued by White House.

"We hope to see this type of cooperation and teamwork in helping secure the release of remaining hostages and in our future joint counterterrorism operations," he added.

Caitlan Coleman, 32, was seven months pregnant when she and her husband, Josh Boyle, were abducted.

The U.S. intelligence officials believed the couple were abducted in 2012 while travelling in Afghanistan and were held captive by the Haqqani network, a branch of the Taliban.

The couple was last seen in a video released in December last year, where they pleaded for their governments to help free them.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that his country expresses deep gratitude to the Government of Pakistan and the Pakistani Army for their cooperation in securing the safe release of the Canadian-American couple.

"I applaud the innumerable lines of effort from across the U.S. Government. I'm particularly proud of Ambassador Hale and his Mission Islamabad team for their engagement with Pakistan. These efforts reflect the best of what America can accomplish," he said.

Meanwhile, Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said, "We are greatly relieved that after being held hostage for five years, Joshua Boyle and his wife Caitlan Coleman, as well as their young children, have been released and are safe."

"Canada has been actively engaged with the governments of the United States, Afghanistan and Pakistan and we thank them for their efforts, which have resulted in the release of Joshua, Caitlan and their children, she added. (ANI)