Australian aid worker abducted in Afghanistan released

By Recep Sakar

MELBOURNE, Australia (AA) – Australia’s government confirmed Monday that an aid worker kidnapped in Afghanistan four months ago has been released.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop released a statement saying that Kerry Wilson, 60, was "safe and well" and expressing appreciation for “authorities in Afghanistan whose support and assistance facilitated her release” and Australian consular staff, local media reported.

Wilson, director of charity Zardozi, was abducted in the eastern city of Jalalabad in late April after unidentified gunmen claiming to be Afghan intelligence stormed the agency’s office.

"To protect those who remain captive or face the risk of kidnapping in Afghanistan and elsewhere, the Government will not comment on the circumstances of Kerry Jane's release," Bishop said Monday, refusing to mention whether any ransom was paid.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Wilson’s abductors were understood to likely have been local criminals seeking ransom rather than members of an extremist group.