ISLAMABAD - Ambassador of Pakistan to Afghanistan, Tariq Azizuddin, who was kidnapped three months ago in Khyber agency, was released by the Taliban militants on Saturday. It was the Foreign Ministry's spokesman, Muhammad Sadiq, who made it known to the media that the kidnapped Pakistani envoy had been recovered. "Ambassador Azizuddin has been recovered and he is reported to be in good health," Sadiq. Azizuddin, 56, was kidnapped on February 11 in Khyber Agency when he was traveling from Peshawar to Kabul. The initial captors of the missing Pakistani envoy were a criminal gang operating in the Khyber agency but at some point, he was handed over to Taliban, said the officials here privy to talks held with abductors for the release of Azizuddin. According to officials, the release of Azizuddin was the latest sign of progress in talks between the government and Taliban militants aimed at the deal for durable peace in restive tribal regions including Waziristan. The two sides are in the process of carrying out prisoner swaps and in addition to that Pakistan army is being withdrawn from Waziristan as demanded by the Taliban. "Ambassador Azizuddin was recovered late Friday," said Advisor to Prime Minister on Interior, Rehman Malik, while talking to reporters at Tariq Azizuddin's residence. The advisor also denied that any Taliban leader was set free in return for securing the release of Ambassador Azizuddin. "His recovery last evening (Friday) is purely a result of law enforcement efforts," he added standing beside the envoy, who had grown a long beard and appeared exhausted. The advisor did not explain what action the security forces took to recover the envoy. The ambassador said he was thankful to God and praised the efforts of the government to secure his freedom. "I am thankful to Allah and the government of Pakistan and very happy to be back in life with my family." He said he was treated well in captivity. "When they kidnapped me I was hit twice in the head with a rifle but afterwards they gave me food and a place to sleep." Azizuddin's driver and bodyguard were also safe and sound with the authorities. Some media report suggested that a key Taliban figure has been released for the purpose without identifying him. Azizuddin's abductors had reportedly asked for the release of Mullah Obaidullah Akhund, deputy to Taliban supreme commander in Afghanistan, Mullah Omar, another major militant commander, Mansoor Dadullah, Maulana Abdul Aziz, former khatib of Lal Masjid (Red Mosque), and many other militants including some involved in suicide acts. Earlier, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Rehman Malik received the ambassador at Chaklala Air Base where he was brought in a special flight from Peshawar. The ambassador was shifted from Khyber Agency to South Waziristan after his abduction. Waziristan is the home base of top militant commander Baitullah Mehsud, accused by the government of masterminding the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in December last year. Militants loyal to Mehsud were believed to have held Azizuddin. Azizuddin appeared in a video that was released on April 19 and aired on an Arab TV channel. In the video, he pleaded for negotiations with Taliban for his release and complained of health problems. His family had also appealed for a deal to secure his release. Ambassador Azizuddin has been Pakistan's envoy to Afghanistan for the past three years. Our Staff Reporter adds from Pershawar: Taliban has released Pakistan's envoy to Afghanistan, Tariq Azizuddin. The militants had kidnapped him on February 11 from Khyber Agency while going to Kabul. Tariq Azizuddin, who primarily belongs to Peshawar, has good command over Pashto and Persian languages. Government said the kidnappers released the envoy along with his driver and gunman. It is reportedly said that Tariq Azizuddin was handed over to tribal jirga in North Waziristan Agency after negotiations, which is an outcome of the government's initiative for peace deal with Pakistani Taliban. It is important to mention here that eighteen Taliban were freed recently in exchange for 55 security personnel.