The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Sunday said India has secured the release of Indian national Father Alexis Prem Kumar and added that he would be back with his family members soon.
"We have secured the release of Indian national Father Alexis Prem Kumar, who was abducted from the Herat province of Afghanistan on June 2. He is in safe hands now and will be back with his near and dear family shortly," said MEA official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.
"This has been a difficult eight month period where the Government of India has pursued this matter quite relentlessly," he added.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed his delight over the release of Father Alexis.
"Delighted at securing the release of Indian Jesuit priest Father Alexis Prem Kumar from captivity in Afghanistan. Have spoken to Father Alexis Prem Kumar. Informed happy family of Father Alexis Prem Kumar of his safe return after 8 months in captivity," the Prime Minister had tweeted.
The 47-year-old Indian Jesuit priest was kidnapped by unknown gunmen from Herat in June last year and was being held as a captive in Afghanistan.