Taliban say American hostage's health deteriorating rapidly

AVA- The hostage Kevin King is among two professors of American University in Afghanistan, held by the militant group.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in a statement said that King has a “dangerous heart and kidney disease.”

“The condition of the said teacher has exponentially worsened, his feet have begun swelling, he frequently loses consciousness and his health is deteriorating rapidly,” he said.

The militant spokesman claimed that the group tried to treat and care for him. “But since we are facing war conditions and do not readily have access to health facilities therefore we are unable to deliver complete treatment.”

King and his Australian colleague Timothy Weeks were abducted in August 2016 as they were returning to their compound in Kabul. A video released by militants earlier this year, showed them pleading with their government to release Taliban prisoners for their freedom.

The statement comes around two weeks after a U.S.-Canadian couple were rescued in Pakistan, five years after being kidnapped by the Haqqani network.