An Iraqi journalist reporting for Britain’s Guardian newspaper in Afghanistan was released along with two Afghan colleagues after being held hostage for six days in Afghanistan’s North Eastern region.

Ghaith Abdul-Ahad was in contact with The Guardian on 9 December. Two days later the newspaper was informed that the three journalists had been kidnapped.

News of the kidnapping had not been made public in an attempt to ensure the safe return of all three journalists. Their families and the relevant authorities in the UK and Afghanistan were kept informed.

After their release, the journalists said they were exhausted, but in good spirits.

The two Afghan journalists have not been named for security reasons, media reports said.

According to The Guardian, the three journalists had been planning to interview militants in the mountainous region bordering Pakistan’s North-West Frontier Province. They were captured last week by an armed gang. The area is known as a stronghold for Taliban and Arab fighters as well as various militia groups, including Hezb-e-Islami, and criminal gangs.