South Asia News
Pro-Taliban militants free more than 200 troops in Pakistan
Sep 10, 2007, 8:42 GMT
Islamabad - Islamic militants on Monday released 264 soldiers and military officers after holding them captive for 11 days in Pakistan's restive tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, media reports said.
The troops were handed over to members of a tribal council and were expected to be moved to their base in Wana, the main town in the tribal district of South Waziristan, the Geo news channel reported.
Military spokesman Major General Arshad Waheed said he could not confirm the report.
The soldiers, mainly from the paramilitary Frontier Corps, were surrounded on August 30, disarmed and taken captive by a large force of pro-Taliban militants who later demanded the release of about two dozen compatriots and the withdrawal of security forces from the region in return for freeing the soldiers.
Initially, it was not clear if the militants' demands were met.
Six of the hostages were released Wednesday as a goodwill gesture.
More than 80,000 troops are deployed in the tribal belt, which the United States claims is a refuge for al-Qaeda and Taliban forces launching crossborder attacks on international forces in Afghanistan.
Security forces in the region have come under a series of attacks since government troops stormed a radical mosque in Islamabad in July. Around 70 soldiers have died in clashes and bombings in recent weeks.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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