Asia-Pacific

Japanese journalist kidnapped in Afghan released

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-09-05 17:49

TOKYO - A Japanese freelance journalist who went missing in Afghanistan in late March and was apparently detained by Afghan militants has been released and is under the protection of the Japanese Embassy in Kabul, Kyodo News reported Sunday, quoting Japanese government sources.

Kosuke Tsuneoka, 41, was freed Saturday and was in good health, the Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press news agency said, quoting a person who met Tsuneoka on Saturday night shortly after his arrival in the Afghan capital.

In Tokyo, Japanese government sources said Tsuneoka received a medical checkup at the Japanese Embassy and appeared to have no injuries.

Tsuneoka went missing in northern Afghanistan in late March. The Taliban claimed to have kidnapped him and asked for a ransom from the Afghan government. It took five months of negotiation before Tsuneoka was finally released.