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RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Army on Thursday recovered five foreign hostages who were kidnapped in Afghanistan in 2012, said a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations.

The rescue was the result of an intelligence-based operation conducted by the forces. 

The hostages, including a Canadian, his US National wife and their three children, were rescued from the custody of terrorists. 

The foreign nationals were captured in Afghanistan by terrorists, added the Pakistan Army's media cell. 

US intelligence agencies had been tracking them and shared the information regarding their shifting across to Pakistan through Kurram Agency border on October 11, 2017, the ISPR stated. 

The statement read: "the operation by Pakistani forces, based on actionable intelligence from US authorities was successful; all hostages were recovered safe and sound and are being repatriated to the country of their origin." 

The success underscores the importance of timely intelligence sharing and Pakistan's continued commitment towards fighting this menace through cooperation between two forces against a common enemy, ISPR added.