Militants backtracked on a deal to free more than 260 abducted soldiers on Monday after an army raid on their hideout near the Afghan border left three rebels dead, a tribal elder said, AP reported.Local authorities and tribal elders believed that the soldiers – who were kidnapped on August 30 in South Waziristan – would be freed on Monday following talks with the militants. However, the militants changed their minds after the army raided their hideout in the region, triggering a shootout that left three insurgents dead, said Masood Ahmed, a local tribal elder. “We could not secure the release of soldiers because of that clash,” he said. Ahmed would not say whether the militants had linked the release of soldiers with any demand. Six of the abducted troops were released last week in what an official said was a “goodwill” gesture to the jirga that was trying to negotiate their release.
Staff Report adds: Military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad earlier rejected reports that militants led by Baitullah Mehsud had released more than 200 soldiers held captive in South Waziristan. “I don’t know how TV channels and wire service carried the reports of the release of the kidnapped soldiers when nothing really happened,” Gen Arshad told Daily Times over the telephone from Rawalpindi. Security sources here said that the army was building up its presence in areas close to the Mehsud areas and there were reports that military operations could be launched there.
Separately, militants opened fire from their car at a checkpost in the Nawaz Kot area of South Waziristan, and the ensuing gunbattle left five insurgents dead, including militant commander Qari Ehsanullah, said Gen Arshad.