WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Tuesday confirmed the release of one American and one Australian held hostage by the Taliban as part of a prisoner swap for three high-level leaders of the Afghan militant group.
"Both men were successfully recovered today and are currently receiving medical care and other support from the United States Government," said the White House in a statement released on Tuesday.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a separate statement on Tuesday that Washington welcomes the release of the two hostages. The Taliban have indicated that the release is "intended as a goodwill gesture," he said.
The top U.S. diplomat also applauded the Taliban's impending release of 10 Afghan prisoners and the Afghan government's release of three Taliban prisoners, which he said are "hopeful signs" that the Afghan war may soon conclude "through a political settlement."
As part of the prisoner swap deal, three Taliban leaders were freed on Monday night. They were flown to Qatar where the Taliban have political headquarters, Taliban sources told media.
The Taliban had held hostage two professors of the American University of Afghanistan, Kevin King from the United States and Timothy Weeks from Australia, since August 2016.
The exchange was seen as a step toward restarting peace talks which broke down in September.
