KABUL — US and Afghan commandos rescued the son of a former Pakistani prime minister Tuesday in eastern Afghanistan, three years after he was kidnapped and held by militants linked to Al Qaeda.

The success of the mission to free Ali Haider Gilani, a former candidate for parliament, prompted joy on both sides of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

For Pakistani leaders, Gilani was one of the most high-profile figures caught in the country’s struggle against Islamist extremists over the past decade. Gilani’s father, Yousuf Raza Gilani, served as prime minister from 2008 to 2012.

For Afghanistan’s military, the operation was further confirmation that the country’s special operations forces are becoming more adept in counterterrorism missions, albeit still working with the US military.

In separate statements, the US-led military coalition and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said that four suspected militants were killed during the operation.

Washington Post