Rescued doc expected back in US by early next week

An American doctor is expected to return to the United States by early next week after he was abducted in Afghanistan and rescued in an operation that left a Navy SEAL dead.

Dr. Dilip Joseph was captured by Taliban insurgents on Dec. 5 and rescued Sunday. Joseph works with Morning Star Development, a Colorado nonprofit that establishes medical clinics and does other work in Afghanistan.

Lars Peterson, Morning Star executive director, said Wednesday Joseph is doing well. Peterson says he doesn’t believe Joseph suffered any abuse.

Petty Officer 1st Class Nicolas Checque of Monroeville, Pa., died in the rescue.

Two other Morning Star workers were abducted with Joseph and were released by their captors on Saturday. Peterson says they aren’t U.S. citizens but declined to identify their home nations.