Rohde was in Afghanistan working on a book before the Taliban abducted him in Novebmer 2008 [AFP]

The newspaper reported his escape on its website on Saturday.

Rohde's was abducted along with Tahir Ludin, a local reporter, and Asadullah Mangal, their driver, on November 10, 2008 outside Kabul, the Afghan capital.

The newspaper said Rohde told his wife that Ludin joined him in climbing over a wall of a Taliban-run compound where they were being held in North Waziristan in Pakistan, but Mangal did not escape with them.

It said the two men found a Pakistani army scout who took them to an army base and they were flown to the US Bagram military base in Afghanistan on Saturday.

'Ordeal end'

In a statement, Hillary Clinton, US secretary of state, said she was pleased that Rohde's ordeal had ended.

"I would like to thank the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan for their assistance in ensuring his safe return," she said without elaborating.

Bill Keller, the executive editor of the New York Times, said the newspaper had kept quiet about the kidnapping in order to avoid increasing the danger to the men.

The newspaper said that Keller declined to discuss efforts to win their release but said no ransom was paid and no Taliban or other prisoners were released.

"Kidnapping, tragically, is a flourishing industry in much of the world. As other victims have told us, discussing your strategy just offers guidance for future kidnappers," he said.

Rhode, 41, had been in Afghanistan working on a book.

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