ISLAMABD, Pakistan: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that Pakistan welcomes the release of Professors Kevin King and Timothy Weeks in Afghanistan, the Dispatch News Desk (DND) news agency reported.
“We appreciate steps taken by all involved to make it possible,” the prime minister said on Tuesday.
Imran Khan said that as part of the International Community working to bring peace & end the suffering of the Afghan people, Pakistan has fully supported & facilitated this release as part of its policy of supporting initiatives for a negotiated political settlement of the Afghan conflict.
“We hope this step gives a boost of confidence to all parties involved to re-engage in the peace process. Pakistan remains committed to facilitating this peace process,” he said.
وزیراعظم عمران خان کا افغانستان میں دو مغربی پروفیسرز کی رہائی کا خیر مقدم
وزیراعظم عمران خان کا ٹویٹ
رہائی ممکن بنانے کے اقدامات قابل تحسین ہیں
پاکستان پروفیسر کیون کنگز اور ٹیموتھی ویکس کی رہائی کا خیر مقدم کرتا ہے@ImranKhanPTI pic.twitter.com/cvnvkkM0Qd— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) November 19, 2019
Both the University professors including the US Citizen Kevin King and the Australian Timothy Weeks were held hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan in August 2016 when their vehicle was ambushed by gunmen in Central Kabul.
Their release has happened as part of a prisoner swap between the Afghan government and the Taliban. In exchange of their release, the Kabul regime announced to free three high-profile militants namely Mali Khan, Hafiz Rashid and Anas Haqqani.
