Afghan Taliban: Kidnapped American Professor Is Seriously Ill

Kevin King, an American professor kidnapped by the Afghan Taliban, has become seriously ill, the militant group announced. King and a colleague from Australia, Timothy Weeks, were captured from the American University of Afghanistan in August 2016. Zabihullah Mujahid, Taliban spokesman, said King is now suffering from “dangerous” heart and kidney problems and needs urgent medical services that the Taliban cannot provide. “His illness has intensified, his feet have swollen, and sometimes he becomes unconscious and his condition worsens every day,” Mujahid said in a statement. “We have tried to treat him time to time but we do not have medical facilities as we are in a war situation.” Afghan and Western officials have acknowledged at least one unsuccessful rescue attempt since the two men were taken.