PESHAWAR: Pakistani security forces on Thursday safely recovered kidnapped Vice Chancellor of Islamia University Professor Ajmal Khan four years after his abduction by Taliban militants.

A statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that security forces and intelligence agencies had been trying to locate Prof Khan since September 8, 2010 when he was kidnapped in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa capital while going to university.

“Civil society and relatives appreciated the untiring efforts of Pakistan Army for the safe recovery of Mr Ajmal Khan,” said the statement.

Professor Ajmal Khan speaking to Dawn said that he was kidnapped by armed men from the same street “they whisked me up into a vehicle and injected some intoxicating medicine and when I regained consciousness I was in a mountainous region.”

He said that the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) kept him Waziirstan Agency and the security forces helped him in getting freedom.

He said that he was never tortured while in Taliban custody and mostly spent his time reading books and praying.

Professor Ajmal thanked the security forces, former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor and the government for his release.

Some sources say that Professor Ajmal was mostly kept in Shawal valley on the border of North and South Waziristan Agency.

Ajmal Khan said that he did know where exactly he was detained and added that his captors kept shifting him from one place to the other.

“I spent four years in captivity and thankful to Allah Almighty I am back. I am really happy to return home and see my family.“ Prof Ajmal said adding that during his captivity he was optimistic about his early release but it did took more time.

Prof Ajmal Khan was in Taliban captivity since September 7, 2010 when he was kidnapped along with his driver at gunpoint from Professor Colony in University of Peshawar.

His driver was released two years later.

The TTP had demanded the release of four Taliban prisoners in the bargain of his release but government had earlier refused the offer.

Prof Khan is also a close relative of ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan and had been a staunch supporter of the war against militancy.