A U.S. journalist who was abducted by the Taliban in Afghanistan seven months ago has escaped and made his way to freedom, the New York Times reported Saturday.

David Rohde, seen here in November 1995, has been on staff with the New York Times since 1996. The 41-year-old journalist was part of the Times team that won a Pulitzer Prize in May for coverage last year of Afghanistan and Pakistan. (Charles Krupa/Associated Press)

David Rohde, a reporter for the newspaper, was being held in the North Waziristan region of Pakistan, where he climbed over the wall of a compound late Friday, his wife said.

Afghan reporter Tahir Ludin also escaped, and together they found a Pakistani army scout who led them to a nearby military base, Rohde's wife, Kristen Mulvihill, said.

The pair were flown to the U.S. military base outside Bagram, Afghanistan, on Saturday, the Times said.

"It is hard to describe the enormous relief we felt at hearing the news of David and Tahir’s escape and knowing he is safe," a statement released by Rohde's family said. "Every day during these past seven months, we have hoped and prayed for this moment."

Rohde, who was reported to be in good health, said his driver chose to remain with their captors and join the Taliban.

Rohde had travelled to Kabul in early November to work on a book about the history of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan when he was invited to interview a Taliban commander.

He and Ludin were abducted, along with their driver, outside Kabul on Nov. 10 — two days after CBC journalist Mellissa Fung was released by her captors in Afghanistan's Wardack province.

Western news outlets had agreed not to report either story out of concern for the abductees' safety.

Gunmen seized Fung on Oct. 12, shortly after she visited a refugee camp near Kabul.

She was stabbed in the shoulder as she was forced into a vehicle. For much of her 28-day ordeal, she was held in a cave-like hole in the ground.