Eight foreign aid workers, including two Americans, held in Afghanistan by the Taliban militia for three months for preaching Christianity were airlifted to freedom Wednesday by US military helicopters, the Pentagon said.
Three US special forces helicopters picked up the aid workers in a field near Ghanzi, about 50 miles southwest of Kabul, at about 4:40 p.m. EST, Pentagon officials said.
The aid workers were flown to Pakistan, and appear to be in good health, officials said.
It was not clear whether the Taliban released the aid workers or they escaped or were freed by US forces.
"I'm thankful they're safe, and I'm pleased with our military for conducting this operation," US President Bush said at his ranch in Crawford, Texas. Bush had rejected several attempts by the Taliban to use the aid workers as bargaining chips.
(China Daily November 15, 2001)
