Special forces tried to rescue us six times, says freed Taliban hostage

An Australian teacher held captive with an American colleague by the Taliban for more than three years believes US special forces tried and failed to free them six times.

Timothy Weeks was released last month in a prisoner swap with Kevin King, ending an ordeal that began with their abduction by the terrorists in 2016 outside the American University in Kabul, where they worked.

Mr Weeks, 50, said yesterday he believed that Navy SEAL teams tried repeatedly to rescue them, sometimes missing them only by hours after the two hostages were moved to other locations by their captors.

“I believe, and I hope this is correct, that they came in six times to try to get us, and that a number of times they missed us only by hours,” Weeks said.

One attempt was in April this year. Mr Weeks said he was woken at 2am by his guards, who told him they were under attack from Islamic State terrorists, and moved him into a tunnel beneath where they were being held.

“I believe now that it was the Navy SEALS coming in to get us,” Mr Weeks said. “I believe they were right outside our door. The moment that we got into the tunnels, we were one or two metres underground and there was a huge bang at the front door. And our guards went up and there was a lot of machine-gun fire.

“They pushed me over the top into the tunnels and I fell backwards and rolled and knocked myself unconscious.”

Mr Weeks said he and Mr King were shifted through various locations in Afghanistan and Pakistan throughout their captivity and were often kept in tiny, windowless cells.

While their lives were often at risk, he said he never gave up hope of being rescued.

“I never, ever gave up hope, and I think in that sort of situation, that if you give up hope, there is very little left for you,” said Mr Weeks, flanked by his sisters Alyssa and Jo Carter. “I knew that I would leave that place eventually. It just took a little longer than I expected.”

While expressing thanks to US President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison for the work that led to their release, Mr Weeks said some Taliban guards he had encountered were “lovely people.

“I don’t hate them at all. And some of them, I have great respect for, and great love for, almost. Some of them were so compassionate and such lovely, lovely people. And it really led me to think about ... how did they end up like this?

“I know a lot of people don’t admit this, but for me they were soldiers. And soldiers obey the commands of their commanders. They don’t get a choice.”

Mr Weeks said he had hugged some of his Taliban guards when they parted company on the day of his release.