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| India-Pakistan | |
| Militants release 16 Pakistani soldiers | |
| 2007-09-06 | |
| GHALLANAI, Pakistan - Pakistani militants linked to Al Qaeda and the Taleban have released 16 paramilitary soldiers held captive in lawless tribal areas near the Afghan border, officials and tribal elders said on Wednesday. Nearly 240 soldiers were taken hostage by militants in South Waziristan tribal region last week. Tribal elder Akhtar Gul Mehsud told reporters that militants had handed over six soldiers to a council of tribal elders. Earlier, the militants had released 10 soldiers captured in Mohmand tribal region on Saturday. Militants in Mohmand had demanded the release of five of their comrades and the withdrawal of troops from checkposts in the region. But, Syed Ahmed Jan, a senior government official in Ghallanai, the main town in Mohmand, said the release of the 10 was unconditional. The military says the men are not captives but are stuck between rival tribal factions and unable to leave.
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| Posted by:Steve White |