KABUL: Australian university professor Timothy Weeks, who was held captive for three years by the Taliban, arrived in Qatar on Thursday to witness the signing of a peace deal between the US and Taliban.

Weeks was met at the airport by Anas Haqqani, who was freed from an Afghan jail in exchange for Weeks release as well as American Kevin King. The two men, both professors at the American University of Afghanistan, were kidnapped in the Afghan capital in 2016. They were held by the Haqqani network.

Anas is the younger brother of Sirajuddin Haqqani, the chief of the feared Haqqani network, which is part of the Taliban.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted a picture of Weeks and Haqqani. Weeks was invited to attend by the Taliban, Mujahid added.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2020