(CNN) -- Greg Mortenson, the high-profile advocate of girls' education in Afghanistan and Pakistan, has been forced to defend his best-selling book "Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Fight Terrorism and Build Nations ... One School at a Time," against charges that key stories in it are false. Mortenson shot to international fame with the book, which describes his getting lost in an effort to climb K2, the world's second-highest peak, being rescued by Pakistani villagers in the village of Korphe and vowing to return there to build a school for local girls. He also claims to have been captured by the Taliban and held for several days before being released.
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A CBS "60 Minutes" investigation alleges the book's stories are not true
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The author says, "I stand by the information conveyed in my book"
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"Three Cups of Tea" spawned a charity and efforts to improve girls' education in Pakistan and Afghanistan
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The book is an international publishing success
Greg Mortenson
Mortenson
On his website, gregmortenson.com, @placeholder claims the kidnapping was carried out by the Taliban.
Taliban
On his website, gregmortenson.com, Mortenson claims the kidnapping was carried out by the @placeholder.
Taliban
Some people are @placeholder, some are not, and affiliations change overnight, often on a whim."
CBS
Mortenson declined @placeholder' requests for an interview and CNN has not been able to reach him.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan
In the e-mail, Mortenson says he recently returned from @placeholder, where his organization plans to establish and built more than 60 new schools this year.