WASHINGTON -- Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is thanking the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan for their assistance in ensuring a New York Times reporter's safe return.

David Rohde was abducted Nov. 10 along with an Afghan reporter and a driver south of the Afghan capital of Kabul. He and Afghan reporter Tahir Ludin escaped by climbing over the wall of a compound in Pakistan.

Clinton said throughout the ordeal her prayers were with Rohde's family as the State Department sought to secure his release. She says she is "greatly relieved" that he will be reuniting soon with his family and is grateful to journalists who put their lives at risk to report the news.