Cham

259 DAYS - In Taliban Captivity

Lorzensaal Tuesday, 21 Jan 2025

An incredible story (in German only)

Daniela Widmer and David Och were traveling along the Silk Road in their VW bus when they were ambushed by the Taliban in Pakistan, and were abducted to tribal areas near the Afghan border. As hostages, they were hidden in courtyards, surrounded day and night by armed fighters. When ransom negotiations threatened to fail after eight and a half months, they attempted the impossible: escaping to freedom.

It happened on July 1, 2011, near the Pakistani city of Loralei, on their way back from India to Switzerland. Daniela Widmer and David Och were being escorted by a military vehicle. But when they were left alone for a moment, the incident occurred: four armed men stepped out of a white car, threatening and binding them before forcing them into a trunk. Their abduction lasted a week, during which they trekked over barren mountains at night, slept for a few hours in sheep pens, and remained constantly on the move until their captors brought them to the FATA region, controlled by the Taliban. This marked the beginning of their hostage ordeal.

The story of Daniela Widmer and David Och is incredibly multifaceted. It revolves around a grand road trip adventure, and gives insights into an ultra-conservative patriarchal society, the personalities of their Islamist captors, the ransom negotiations between the Swiss Foreign Ministry and Taliban representatives, as well as themes of gratitude and humility, accusations and blame, the Swiss media coverage and, most importantly, the fate of a young couple who spent 259 days in constant fear of death and whose lives would never be the same again. It was awarded the Discovery Days prize for "Best Story," and is the most explosive tale Explora has ever presented.

In German only.

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