iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — After being held hostage for five years by a Taliban-affiliated terrorist network in the mountains of Afghanistan, a Canadian man and his American wife arrived in Toronto Friday night, Canadian officials confirmed.
The Government of Canada issued the following statement on the arrival of Joshua Boyle, his wife Caitlan Coleman and their three children at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport: “Today, we join the Boyle family in rejoicing over the long-awaited return to Canada of their loved ones. Canada has been actively engaged on Mr. Boyle’s case at all levels, and we will continue to support him and his family now that they have returned.”
The couple and their children — all three born in captivity — were rescued in a dramatic operation orchestrated by the U.S. and Pakistani governments, officials said Thursday.
The couple were abducted in October 2012 and held by the Haqqani network, which has ties to the Taliban and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S.
The operation came after years of U.S. pressure on Pakistan for assistance. It unfolded quickly and included what some described as a shootout and a dangerous raid. U.S. officials did not confirm the details.
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