Islamabad: A Chinese tourist who was kidnapped in northwestern Pakistan a year ago has been rescued, authorities said on Sunday. Pakistani Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said Pakistani security forces and intelligence agencies were involved in the rescue operation. However, he did not mention where and when the tourist was rescued, Duniya News reported.
The Chinese tourist, named Hong Xudong and from central China's Hubei Province, would be handed over to the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, according to Nisar. Hong was abducted in Pakistan's Dera Ismail Khan district on May 19, 2014 when travelling in the country on his bicycle.

He entered Pakistan in April from India and was on his way to Iran. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. There were also unverified reports and a video earlier this year showing that Hong was in the custody of the Taliban.

(IANS)