TORONTO — The parents of a Canadian man held hostage in Afghanistan say a recently released video of their son and his family marks the first time they've seen their two grandchildren, who were born in captivity.
Canadian Joshua Boyle and his American wife, Caitlan Coleman, were kidnapped in 2012 while backpacking in northern Afghanistan.
In the video uploaded to YouTube earlier this week, Coleman — sitting next to her husband — urges government on all sides to reach a deal to secure the family's freedom.
Boyle's parents, Patrick and Linda Boyle, say they felt "indescribable" emotions when they watched the video on Monday — in which one grandson makes faces at the camera while their own son's leg chains clang on the floor.
The parents say their son told them in a letter that he and his wife have tried to shield the children from the "horrible reality" of living in captivity, pretending they are part of a game being played with guards.
The video was dated Dec. 3, according to Site Intelligence Group, which monitors extremist activity online.
