KABUL: (MEP) Colin Rutherford, a Canadian man who was taken hostage while on vacation in Afghanistan in 2010, has been released from captivity, according to the reports.
He was accused of spying while travelling to Afghanistan but in the video released by the Taliban, Rutherford explained he had come to Afghanistan as a tourist and that he was interested in “history and historical sites, old buildings, shrines.
However, the Canadian authorities at that time said Mr. Rutherford was a tourist in Afghanistan and was seeking to learn Pashto during his travels.
The Foreign Affairs Minister of Canada Stephene Dion on Monday confirmed Mr. Rutherford was released five years after he went missing.
According to the Canadian media quoting the government officials, the 27-year-old Colin Rutherford was released with the mediation of Qatar.
The minister also offered his “heartfelt thanks to the government of Qatar for its assistance in this matter”.
