Pakistan Rescues Chinese Tourist From Taliban

Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan

Pakistan's interior minister says a Chinese tourist held hostage for months by the Taliban has been freed in a government operation.

Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the man will be handed over to Chinese authorities soon.

Khan did not identify the Chinese national and did not provide details on the rescue.

The only Chinese national known to be held by the Taliban is Hong Xudong, who was abducted in May 2014 near the northwestern Pakistani city of Dera Ismail Khan.

The kidnapping was claimed by a splinter group of the Pakistani Taliban.

Based on reporting by AP