We can’t be complacent about Canadian hostages

Successful rescues of overseas kidnap victims, such as the freeing of the Boyle-Coleman family by Pakistani security forces, are rare. More often than not, such actions end with the death of the victims or the rescuers. Experts say less than 20 per cent of rescue attempts succeed.

That’s one reason the Canadian government can’t be complacent when our citizens are kidnapped abroad.

Canadian Joshua Boyle and his American wife Caitlan Coleman were kidnapped in early October 2012 as they trekked across Afghanistan. Three children were born while they were in captivity.

Their kidnapping was attributed to the Haqqani network, a Talibanrelated organization, largely based in northwest Pakistan but active in Afghanistan. Initially, there were reports that a ransom of $150,000 was demanded, but other reports suggested a demand for the release of prisoners by the Afghan government. One prisoner in particular was named: Anas Haqqani, the son of the group’s founder, Jamaluddin Haqqani. Anas Haqqani had been captured in Afghanistan and was under sentence of death.

Details on the Pakistani rescue remain scant. One report suggests that the Boyle-Coleman family had been held in Afghanistan since capture but was recently transferred to Pakistan. It suggests American intelligence was able to monitor the transfer on Oct. 11, the fifth anniversary of their capture. Details were provided to the Pakistani authorities, who acted within hours to carry out the successful rescue.

As with most such events in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border area, there is reason to be skeptical of such a neat scenario. The Haqqani network is as much a Pakistani organization as it is an Afghanistan one; there is no reason to doubt the family has been in Pakistan for some time. For reasons not yet known, Pakistani authorities decided it was time to bring this matter to an end. In time, we will have a more complete picture of what happened.

In a statement, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland noted that “Canada has been actively engaged with the governments of the United States, Afghanistan and Pakistan and we thank them for their efforts.”

U.S. President Donald also weighed in: “This is a positive moment for our country’s relationship with Pakistan.” Secretary of State Rex Tillerson spoke of the “innumerable lines of effort” to free the family.

The release of the Boyle-Coleman family means there are now no Canadians known to be held captive in foreign countries. But many have been held at different times in countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Somalia, the Philippines and Colombia. Some have died, some have been released.

The House of Commons committee on foreign affairs and defence has started hearings on the state of government service to Canadians in difficulty overseas. It should be apparent to all members that the kidnapping of Canadians should be high on the agenda for early action, particularly the government’s emphasis on “no payment of ransom.” Unfortunately, this policy means a death sentence for some Canadians.

Several governments have used the “no ransom” mantra for kidnappings. Research by a variety of organizations has shown that this mantra is of little to no value when lives are at risk.

The policy is no panacea, as has been demonstrated by organizations that have studied the matter closely.

In the meantime, all Canadians can rejoice in the release of the parents and their young children. Regardless of the circumstances, the government of Pakistan should be congratulated for its actions. — Gar Pardy is retired from the Canadian foreign service. He has completed a report for the Rideau Institute on the kidnapping of Canadians, to be released later this year.