NEW DELHI (dpa-AFX) - Colorado based doctor Dilip Joseph, who was kidnapped by the Taliban discusses his ordeal in detail in a book published on Tuesday.
The medical director of Morning Star Development was on an assignment in Afghanistan when he and two of his Afghan colleagues Rafiq and Farzad were abducted on December 5, 2012 on their way back from visits to remote health clinics in Afghanistan. They were captives in an inaccessible desert for four days and the Taliban demanded $300 thousand as ransom. Militants said that they will kill the captives if their demands are not fulfilled.
Later, the Afghan hostages were freed and Dilip Joseph was in imminent danger. US military in Afghanistan and various intelligence sources traced the phone calls by the militants, who were negotiating with the Morning Star for a ransom. The US Navy SEAL Team Six, in a highly risky operation, rescued Dilip Joseph from the clutches of Taliban on that Sunday midnight. Dilip Joseph and James Lund, contributor remember in this book titled 'Kidnapped by the Taliban - A story of Terror, Hope and Rescue by SEAL Team Six' that Nicolas Checque, 28, a highly decorated and dedicated Navy SEAL of Pennsylvania was shot in the head during gunfire with the militants on that Sunday and died later.
In his book, the American doctor also wants to portray surprisingly humane acts of militants during the captivity. The doctor was in tears when he heard about the demands of the Taliban and the captors wiped his tears at more than one occasions. The 19-year old Taliban - Wallakah - who opened up to Dilip Joseph, even asked whether he can take him back to normal life.
Dilip Joseph says the sacrifice of Checque would always weigh heavily on him and he will pursue his career more passionately to save lives.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX