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Canadian man held hostage in Pakistan for five years refused to believe Donald Trump was president

Joshua Boyle speaks to the media after arriving with his wife and three children to Toronto Pearson International Airport: REUTERS
Joshua Boyle speaks to the media after arriving with his wife and three children to Toronto Pearson International Airport: REUTERS

A Canadian man held hostage in Pakistan for five years thought his captors were joking when they told him Donald Trump was US president.

Joshua Boyle and wife Caitlan Coleman were held in tiny underground cells without access to TV, radio or reading materials after being kidnapped by Taliban-allied insurgents while backpacking in Afghanistan in 2012.

They returned home to Canada last week with their three children after being freed by Pakistani security forces.

Mr Boyle, 34, said one of his captors informed him Mr Trump had been elected before they forced him to film a “proof-of-life” video late last year.

"It didn’t enter my mind that he was being serious," he told the Toronto Star.

The couple were also unaware Justin Trudeau was Canadian prime minister before they were rescued.

Their kidnappers allowed them only a slate and a piece of chalk for entertainment during their captivity, Mr Boyle told the newspaper.

He said they once asked for something to do or read to relieve their boredom and were handed a pile of dirty dishes to wash by their captors.

Caitlin Coleman and Joshua Boyle were kidnapped while hiking in Afghanistan (REUTERS)
Caitlin Coleman and Joshua Boyle were kidnapped while hiking in Afghanistan (REUTERS)

Ms Coleman, now 31, was heavily pregnant with the couple’s first child when they were taken hostage by Haqqani militants.

They arrived home on Friday with their three children, all born in captivity, but said a fourth child - a girl - had been killed by their kidnappers.

Ms Coleman has said she was also raped and forced to have an abortion by the insurgents.

The family were rescued following a shootout near the Afghan border between their captors and Pakistani forces, acting on a tip-off from the US.

Donald Trump said the family's release was a
Donald Trump said the family's release was a

The freed family are now adjusting to life in Canada, with the children said to see their new home as a "magical wonderland" filled with unfamiliar objects.

Mr Trump said their release was "positive moment" for US-Pakistan ties.

"Ms Coleman gave birth to the couple's three children while they were in captivity," the president said. "Today, they are free."

He added: "The Pakistani government's co-operation is a sign that it is honouring America's wishes for it to do more to provide security in the region."