Internation Affairs:: Taliban hostage family freed by Pakistani troops

Pakistani soldiers have freed a North American family of five who were being held hostage by the Afghan Taliban.

Canadian Joshua Boyle and his US wife Caitlan Coleman were kidnapped while backpacking in Afghanistan in 2012. They had three children while in captivity.
They were rescued after a US tip-off during an operation near the Afghan border, the Pakistani army said.
US President Donald Trump said it was a "positive moment" for US-Pakistan ties.
"Ms Coleman gave birth to the couple's three children while they were in captivity," Mr Trump said in a White House statement. "Today, they are free."
He added: "The Pakistani government's co-operation is a sign that it is honouring America's wishes for it to do more to provide security in the region."
Pakistan army statement that was later confirmed by US officials.
The couple, American Caitlan Coleman, 31, and her Canadian husband, Joshua Boyle, 33, were kidnapped in 2012 while they were backpacking Afghanistan. Coleman was pregnant when she was kidnapped and the couple had two more children in captivity.
Pakistan said it had secured their release after receiving intelligence from the US. "The operation by Pakistani forces, based on actionable intelligence from US authorities was successful; all hostages were recovered safe and sound and are being repatriated to the country of their origin," the statement said.
US officials said intelligence about the family's location had been shared with Pakistan officials in recent days.
Boyle's parents, Patrick and Linda, told CNN that they had spoken to their son and that all of the family members were in good health. They learned for the first time in the call that they now have a granddaughter.
Arrangements were being made to return the family either to the US or Canada.