Special forces rescue US citizen kidnapped by Afghan Taliban

(ABC) An American doctor who worked for an NGO in Kabul and had been kidnapped by the Taliban was rescued today in a raid by U.S. Special Operations forces in Afghanistan, according to U.S. officials.

Dr. Dilip Joseph, who was abducted Dec. 5 by Taliban insurgents in the vicinity of Sarobi District, Kabul Province, was freed today during an operation in eastern Afghanistan.

“Today’s mission exemplifies our unwavering commitment to defeating the Taliban,” said Gen. John R. Allen, the commander of USFOR-A. “I’m proud of the American and Afghan forces that planned, rehearsed and successfully conducted this operation. Thanks to them, Dr. Joseph will soon be rejoining his family and loved ones.”

Allen said he ordered the mission when intelligence showed that Joseph was in imminent danger of injury or death.

According to a Defense Department official, no U.S. forces were killed in the raid, but several Taliban died in the rescue, which was a nighttime helicopter raid by U.S. Special Operations forces in a very remote area by the Pakistan border.

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