A 40-year-old Indian woman working for an international NGO, who was kidnapped in Kabul last month by suspected militants, has been rescued, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Saturday.
Judith D’Souza, who works for Aga Khan Foundation as a senior technical adviser, was kidnapped outside her office in the heart of Kabul on June 9.
Swaraj tweeted:
I am happy to inform you that Judith D’souza has been rescued. @jeromedsouza
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 23, 2016
Thank you Afghanistan – for all your help and support in rescuing #Judith.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 23, 2016
Ambassador @VohraManpreet – you have done an outstanding job.#Judith
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 23, 2016
Judith D’Souza is with us – safe and in good spirits. She will reach her Motherland at the earliest. Vande Mataram. https://t.co/VAfBWpBAeN
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 23, 2016
And announced that she would be in Delhi by Saturday evening:
I have spoken to Judith. She is reaching Delhi this evening. Ambassador @VohraManpreet is accompanying her.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 23, 2016
The External Affairs Ministry was in constant touch with Afghan authorities to ensure a safe release for Judith, a resident of Kolkata.
Judith’s family had last month written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging his intervention in ensuring that she is reunited with them. Modi had requested Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to expedite efforts to secure Judith’s release.
Her family thanked the Indian government for its efforts to secure her release.
“We are thankful to the Indian government for the rescue of our sister. We are now waiting for her to be back home. We would request the media to respect our privacy,” Judith’s sister Agnes told PTI.
with inputs from PTI
