KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - A U.S. doctor kidnapped by the Taliban was rescued Sunday by Afghan and coalition forces in eastern Afghanistan. At least six people were killed and two Taliban leaders were arrested during the rescue.
One rescuer, an American man, was killed during the operation, the White House said Sunday night. The statement described the man as "one of our special operators."
Dr. Dilip Joseph, was abducted along with two Afghan men on Wednesday while driving to a rural medical clinic in eastern Afghanistan, about an hour outside of the capital, Kabul, according to district police.
From there, the kidnapped men were taken to a mountainous area about 50 miles from the border with Pakistan, according to a statement from the U.S. nonprofit that employed the men, Morning Star Development. After days of negotiations, the two Afghan employees were released Saturday. But Joseph remained in the hands of his Taliban kidnappers.
Having received intelligence that the doctor was in imminent danger, U.S. and Afghan forces mounted a rescue attempt, the coalition forces said in a statement. The doctor was unhurt in the raid.
Joseph, of Colorado Springs, has frequently traveled to Afghanistan, according to Morning Star. The kidnappers were believed to have been demanding a $100,000 ransom.
NEW YORK TIMES
