Indian woman rescued from captors in Afghanistan, returns home

New Delhi: Judith D'Souza, an Indian aid worker who was abducted in Kabul last month by suspected militants, has been rescued and returned here today. The 40-year-old woman, who works for Aga Khan Foundation as a senior technical adviser, was abducted outside her office in the heart of Kabul on June 9. Judith, accompanied by Indian Ambassador in Afghanistan Manpreet Vohra, arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport at around 6 PM and later called on External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. "I am happy to inform you that Judith D'Souza has been rescued," Swaraj said, announcing her release through a tweet in the morning. She also thanked Afghan authorities for securing her release. "Thank you Afghanistan - for all your help and support in rescuing #Judith." The External Affairs Ministry was in constant touch with Afghan authorities to ensure the safe release of Judith, who hails from Kolkata. It was not immediately known who were Judith's captors and how she was rescued. She was abducted along with two other persons. "Another safe homecoming! EAM and the two MoSs meet Judith D'Souza in Delhi, after her release from captivity," MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted along with pictures of Swaraj meeting Judith. The External Affairs Minister also lauded the efforts made by Vohra in ensuring Judith's release. In Kolkata, her family thanked the 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. Her family had last month written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging his intervention in ensuring her release. In the letter, the family members had said that the "brave, thoughtful, generous and compassionate" Judith had been working in Afghanistan for the well-being of the Afghan people and "as an ambassador of goodwill from India's people". During a meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on the sidelines of the annual summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Tashkent last month, Modi had requested the his intervention in securing Judith's release.