Boyle family captivity shows the risks of going to dangerous countries: Experts
TORONTO — Globe-trotters who deliberately flout government travel advisories are actively placing themselves both in harm’s way and beyond the reach of most traditional rescue efforts if disaster strikes, security experts said Saturday.
The case of a Canadian man held in captivity in Afghanistan for five years highlights the many risks of venturing into countries where the government has little recourse for helping its citizens.
Joshua Boyle and his American wife Caitlan Coleman were abducted in October 2012 and held in captivity for five years by the Haqqani Network, a group linked to the Taliban. The couple gave birth to four children and endured the slaying of one of them before being rescued by Pakistani commandos on Wednesday.
Security advisers say the length of time the family spent in captivity is not surprising given Canada’s official stance on negotiating with terrorist organizations as well as the limited intelligence resources available to government officials.