Tribal elders, political agents and Akhtar Gul Masood, a member of the grand tribal jirga in South Waziristan, categorically denied reports of the release of 30 of the more than 250 soldiers abducted in South Waziristan on August 30 as they made their way to Ladha tehsil from Wana in a 16-vehicle convoy.Reports that the local Taliban had released the soldiers, which appeared on several private TV channels, were completely baseless and unfounded, said Masood told Online. South Waziristan Political Agent Hussain Zada Khan and Assistant Political Agent Laddha Yahya Khawanzada also denied the reports. Also rejecting the news, local Taliban commanders in South Waziristan made clear that no abducted soldiers were released.