Canadian man freed after 5 years in Taliban captivity

A Canadian man, who was kidnapped in 2010 while on vacation in war-torn Afghanistan, has been released from captivity, a statement by Canada's foreign minister said Monday.

Colin Rutherford, a Toronto man, had appeared in a video released by the Taliban in 2011, one year after he was captured.

"Canada is very pleased that efforts undertaken to secure the release of Colin Rutherford from captivity have been successful," said Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion. "We look forward to Mr. Rutherford being able to return to Canada and reunite with his family and loved ones. "

"The government of Canada will continue to provide Mr. Rutherford with consular assistance and will assist in facilitating his safe return home," Dion said in the news release.

The minister also offered his "heartfelt thanks to the government of Qatar for its assistance in this matter."

Rutherford's brother, Brian, wrote in an email to CBC News, "We are obviously overjoyed with the news!"

Rutherford's mother and brother spoke to CBC in 2011, saying they wanted to make contact with his captors. According to his mother, Rutherford had chosen to go to Afghanistan out of his love for travel and history.

"It's not exactly the place, maybe, most people would want to go to. But he just loves travel ... I know he loves to travel, so I would not stop him from following his dreams," she said.

Rutherford's brother also acknowledged at the time that his choice of travel destination was not a wise one.

The Taliban had claimed Rutherford was a "spy" and threatened to put him on trial. But in the video released by the Taliban, Rutherford explained he had come to Afghanistan as a tourist and that he was interested in "history and historical sites, old buildings, shrines." Enditem