Izzet Sahin, the IHH representative who negotiated with the Pakistani group, told the media that the two women were flown to the eastern Turkish city of Van on Friday following two months of negotiations, after the families of the two hostages appealed to IHH for assistance in getting their release. They were reunited with their families in Turkey, before flying to the Czech Republic on Saturday morning.
"I still can't believe that this is happening," said Chrastecka, upon arriving in Turkey. "On the one hand, I'm very worried and very tired, but I don't want to sleep because I'm scared that this is just a dream."
In March 2013, Chrastecka and Humpalova were traveling from Iran to India when the minibus they were traveling in was stopped by armed militants in Balochistan, near the Pakistani border with Iran. During their time in captivity, the two appeared in several videos which were released to the media by their captors, including one which they demanded the release of Pakistani neuroscientist Aafia Siddiqui, who was jailed in the United States in 2010 on charges of participation in terrorist activities.
