Canadian man released by Taliban

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The family of a Canadian man captured by the Taliban in 2010 is overjoyed he’s been freed.

Colin Rutherford was on vacation in Afghanistan when he was seized by the militant group . The last indication his family had that he was alive came in a 2011 video released by insurgents who accused him of being a spy. In the video, Rutherford insisted he had travelled to Afghanistan to study historical sites.

Rutherford’s brother also acknowledged at the time that his choice of travel destination was not a wise one.

Rutherford’s release involved a helicopter landing to scoop him up as fighter jets flew overhead.

In announcing Rutherford’s release, Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion says the government of Qatar was involved. It’s quietly played mediator between western governments and the Taliban a number of times.