Afghanistan: Taliban release kidnapped Jesuit priest

Arriving at New Delhi airport

A Jesuit priest who was abducted by the Taliban in Afghanistan eight months ago, was freed over the weekend. Father Alexis Prem Kumar, 47, arrived at New Delhi airport last night. He told reporters that India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi was responsible for for his release. He said: "It is because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that I am here. He saved me. This evening, he talked to me when I was at the Kabul Airport. Possibly, he took a lot of interest in rescuing me."

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke the news through Twitter. "Delighted at securing the release of Indian Jesuit priest Father Alexis Prem Kumar from captivity in Afghanistan," he tweeted.

"Have spoken to Father Alexis Prem Kumar. Informed happy family of Father Alexis Prem Kumar of his safe return after 8 months in captivity," he added.

Fr Prem was abducted in Herat province in western Afghanistan by unidentified gunmen on 2 June last year.

"The matter of his release has been pursued by our leadership, including at the highest levels by the Prime Minister. Father Alexis Prem Kumar is now back in the safety of his homeland and arrangements are being made for him to rejoin his family soon," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said. He expressed India's "deep gratitude to all those who worked tirelessly over the last eight months to help in this humanitarian task of ensuring the safe release of one of our citizens".

Fr Prem had been working in the country for three years, with the Jesuit Refugee Service as its Afghanistan Director. He had accompanied teachers on a visit to a JRS-supported school for returnee refugees in Sohadat village, 25-km from the city of Herat. He was kidnapped from the school as he was about to return to Herat, the JRS had said then.

Before moving to Afghanistan, Fr Prem worked with Sri Lankan refugees in Tamil Nadu.