Timothy Weeks recalls Taliban hostage ordeal – ‘I never gave up hope’

(FASTNEWS | COLOMBO) – An Australian academic freed by the Taliban in a prisoner swap has spoken of his “long and tortuous ordeal” as a hostage in Afghanistan.

Timothy Weeks said he believed US special forces had tried six times to rescue him and an American captive, Kevin King, who was also released.

Mr Weeks said he did not hate the Taliban, saying some of his guards were “lovely people” he hugged as he left.

“I never, ever gave up hope… I knew I would leave eventually,” he said.

Mr Weeks and Mr King, also an academic, were freed this month in exchange for three senior militants held by the Afghan authorities, in a deal aimed at kick-starting peace talks.

The pair had been held for three years after being abducted outside the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, where they worked as professors. (Courtesy – BBC)