Rescued aid worker back home from Afghanistan
NEW DELHI/KOLKATA: An aid worker who was kidnapped in Afghanistan last month reached New Delhi on Saturday after being rescued and was warmly welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
Judith D’Souza was accompanied by Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Manpreet Vohra when she landed in New Delhi on Saturday evening.
“Welcome to India, Judith,” Modi tweeted after meeting her.
“Would like to thank the Government of Afghanistan, especially President @ashrafghani for their cooperation in bringing Judith home,” he added.
Soon after her arrival, Judith, wearing a light blue salwar kameez, went and met Sushma Swaraj who hugged her warmly.
Both Ministers of State for External Affairs V K Singh and M J Akbar were also present.
“Another safe homecoming! EAM and two MoSs meet Judith D’Souza in Delhi, after her release from captivity,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted along with pictures of Judith and the three ministers.
Sushma Swaraj, Singh and Akbar accompanied Judith when she went to meet the Prime Minister.
Hailing from Kolkata, Judith, 40, who works for the Aga Khan Network, was seized by gunmen on June 9 in the Qala-e-Fatullah area of Kabul while she was returning home after dinner at a friend’s place.