Taliban-linked group releases family held captive for 5 years

An American woman, her Canadian husband and their three young children have been released after years held captive by a group that has ties to the Taliban and is considered a terrorist organization by the United States, U.S. and Pakistani officials said Thursday.

U.S. officials said Pakistan secured the release of Caitlan Coleman of Stewartstown, Pennsylvania, and her husband, Canadian Joshua Boyle, who were abducted five years ago while traveling in Afghanistan and then held by the Haqqani network.

Coleman was pregnant when she was captured. The couple had three children while in captivity, and all have been freed, U.S. officials said.

“Today they are free,” President Donald Trump said, crediting the U.S. government with securing the release “working in conjunction with the Government of Pakistan.”

Trump later praised Pakistan for its willingness to “do more to provide security in the region.”