• Jacky Naegelen / Reuters

    France 3 television journalists Herve Ghesquiere, right, and Stephane Taponier react during a news conference after their arrival at Villacoublay military airport near Paris on June 30. Ghesquiere and Taponier, held hostage in Afghanistan for a year and a half, were captured on December 29, 2009 in Kapisa province, northeast of the capital Kabul, along with their Afghan driver and translator.

    Journalists released by Taliban back on French soil

    By David R Arnott, NBC News

    Herve Ghesquiere and Stephane Taponier arrived back in France today after 547 days in captivity in Afghanistan. Read more about their release.

    Reporters Without Borders, a charity that works to improve the safety of journalists, said in a statement:

    Afghanistan continues to be one of the world's most dangerous countries for media personnel and Afghan journalists pay a high price for working with foreign media. At least 15 journalists have been kidnapped by criminal or insurgent groups in Afghanistan since the start of 2009.

  • Christophe Ena / AP

    France Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand, right, stands with employees of France's public television in Paris to support French TV journalists Herve Ghesquiere and Stephane Taponier, held hostage in Afghanistan for 500 days.

    Christophe Ena / AP

    Employees of France's public television form the number 500 as they gather in Paris on May 13 to support French TV journalists Herve Ghesquiere and Stephane Taponier, held hostage in Afghanistan for 500 days.

    French TV employees mark 500th day of their colleagues' captivity in Afghanistan

    By Phaedra Singelis, NBC News

    Herve Ghesquiere and Stephane Taponier were seized in 2009 near Kabul and have been held captive for more than 500 days. More on the missing journalists from France24.com.