A Canadian held hostage for five years has been freed by the Afghan Taliban, officials said Monday.
The exact date Colin Rutherford was taken captive is unclear. The Taliban announced his capture in February 2011 and released a video that May in which the then-26-year-old said he had been a tourist in Afghanistan, according to Reuters.
Canada's Foreign Minister Stephane Dion said Qatar had help in efforts to free Rutherford, adding that Canada was "very pleased" those efforts had been successful.
"We look forward to Mr. Rutherford being able to return to Canada and reunite with his family and loved ones,” Dion said in a brief statement.
Rutherford was released on humanitarian grounds, according to a statement from the Afghan Taliban.
