Two Czech women kidnapped in Pakistan in 2013 freed: official

The two were kidnapped on Mar 13, 2013 while being escorted by tribal policeman after crossing into Pak from Iran

PRAGUE: Two Czech women kidnapped in Pakistan in 2013 have been freed and are now in the Czech Republic, Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said on Saturday.

The 24-year-old psychology students - Hana Humpa­lova and Antonie Chrastecka - were kidnapped on March 13, 2013, while being escorted by a tribal policeman after crossing into Pakistan from Iran.

Read: Czech hostages shown alive in Pakistan

"I can confirm that Hana Humpalova and Antonie Chrastecka have already returned to the Czech Republic," the Czech Prime Minister told the CT24 news channel.

The two women arrived in the eastern Turkish province of Van late on March 27 after two months of "intense" talks, Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) official Izzet Sahin leading the negotiations told Turkish Anadolu news agency.

Sahin said that the families of the victims contacted the Turkish charity two months ago after exhausting all options to save the two.

"We have put into use every tool at our disposal to get them back. We have handed them over to their families safely,” he added.

“Antonie and Hana were captives for two years, which were very difficult for them."

Humpalova said that for the first time in their lives they saw weapons and armed men.

“We still do not know why were we kidnapped,” she said.

Humpalova further said that they kept our hopes alive that one day they would be rescued.

"I still can't believe I am here," Chrastecka said. "Even now, I fear this is a dream."

She said the worst part of her captivity was being apart from her family.

"Being away from my family was really hard. From the first moment I was kidnapped, I wanted to be with them. I am so happy right now and excited," Chrastecka said.

Earlier, a video of two was made in August 2013 and delivered to the Czech embassy in Islamabad, Czech foreign ministry spokesperson Johana Grohova told reporters.

The video offered no indication of the kidnappers’ identity. Chrastecka asked Czech authorities to work with the Pakistani government to help her ‘go home’.