The son of former Pakistani premier Yousaf Raza Gilani, Ali Haider Gilani, waves as he arrives home in Lahore. (AFP Photo)
Looking exhausted in his T-shirt and long beard, the son of a former Pakistani prime minister whom U.S. and Afghan commandos rescued from al-Qaida militants arrived home after three years in captivity.
Ali Haider Gilani briefly thanked his rescuers during a press conference meant to show a new spirit of friendship between two countries that have long disputed over how to deal with terrorists operating along their shared border.
He then boarded a plane bound for Lahore.
"These sacrifices for someone from another country - that shows the efforts of the Afghan government of bringing peace to our region," Gilani said, after he was formally handed over to Pakistan's ambassador to Afghanistan, Abrar Hussain. "I'm just looking forward to being reunited with my family and just getting back to a normal life."
Gilani's rescue 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.
U.S. military officials, who oversaw the raid against al-Qaida fighters in Afghanistan's Paktika province, said Gilani's presence inside the compound was a surprise. The whereabouts of the former candidate for Pakistan's parliament were unknown after gunmen snatched Gilani on May 9, 2013, as he was campaigning in the eastern Pakistani city of Multan.
On Wednesday, Afghan Army chief of staff Major General Shahim Qadam Shah said U.S. and Afghan officials learned that al-Qaida was establishing a cell near the Pakistan border and planned the raid earlier this week.
Four suspected al-Qaida militants were killed during the operation.
"We managed to rescue this dear youth during the operation and officially hand him over to Pakistan and we are glad for fulfilling our duty," Shahim said.
When Gilani landed in Lahore about a two hours later, he was greeted by his brothers and other family members. He then received a police escort to his family residence.
Crowds lined the motorcade route, showering his vehicle with pink rose petals.
© 2016 The Washington Post
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