Taliban Say Discussing Return Of Kidnapped Australian, US Professors With Washington

KABUL (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st June, 2019) The Taliban have started secret talks with US officials on the release of an Australian and a US citizen, who were kidnapped by the radical movement in Kabul almost three years ago, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Sputnik without specifying the movement's demands.

US professor Kevin King and his Australian colleague, Timothy Weeks, who were working at the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, were abducted by suspected Taliban gunmen in summer 2016.

"We have set forth our demands to US officials in return for the release of the professors.

If the United States accepts our demands, it is easy to release them, but if not, they will remain in captivity," Mujahid said.

The Taliban spokesman did not share any other information about the abductees, including details about their health, which is believed to have deteriorated after years in captivity.

King's release has already been addressed during the peace consultations between the Taliban and the United States this year. Washington's demand to release the professor was reported to have been among the issues that temporarily stalled the Taliban-US talks in January.