The ordeal for the German hostage kidnapped in Afghanistan is over. Almost three months after he was first captured, 62-year-old Rudolf Blechschmidt was released on Wednesday afternoon in the Afghan province of Wardak.

The district chief in Wardak confirmed that the hostage had arrived at his office at 4:40 p.m., local time. "I am doing well, I'm just very tired," Blechschmidt told SPIEGEL ONLINE by phone. "I am happy to finally be free after such a long time."

He is reported to be in relatively good health. An Afghan Interior Ministry unit is to escort him to the German embassy in Kabul later Wednesday evening.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier confirmed that Blechschmidt had been freed. "We are all pleased and relieved," Steinmeier said in Berlin on Wednesday afternoon.

The release was not secured by use of force but rather through lengthy negotiations by Afghan mediators. It is not clear if any ransom was paid. During recent weeks relatives and confidants of the kidnappers were arrested to ramp up the pressure on the abductors.

The release ends an 84-day ordeal for Blechschmidt. His fellow hostage Rüdiger Diedrich was shot and killed  by the kidnappers after he collapsed from exhaustion.

One and half weeks ago, it seemed as if the kidnappers had released Blechschmidt but then they recaptured him. Since then, mediators and German officials have tried to persuade the kidnappers to release the German man and the five Afghans who were taken with him.