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Taliban use hostages to barter
Source: Agencies |
September 9, 2011, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE Pakistani Taliban holding more than 20 young tribesmen hostage in an area straddling the border with Afghanistan have demanded the release of scores of prisoners and an end to tribal elders' support of offensives against them.
The teenage tribesmen from Pakistan's northwestern Bajaur tribal region were abducted by the militants last week in Afghanistan's border province of Kunar during the Muslim festival of Eid.
Mullah Dadullah, the Taliban commander in Bajaur, said: "If the Pakistan government and the tribal elders do not respond to our demands, we will not free the boys."
Four of the 23 prisoners, aged between 15 and 21 were displayed to reporters during a visit to the area. More then 30 militants with heavy and light weapons accompanied Dadullah. Some of the young prisoners were crying.
The Taliban commander demanded the release of prisoners, including women and children, detained in jails in Peshawar, the main city in the Pakistani northwest, and Bajaur region.
He also demanded the government provide compensation for houses destroyed in Pakistani military operations in Bajaur. He said a Taliban court will decide the fate of the prisoners if there was no response from the authorities or from tribal elders.
A Pakistani military spokesman said last week that 40 young tribesmen were abducted. He said 10 were released and 30 remained captive.
The teenage tribesmen from Pakistan's northwestern Bajaur tribal region were abducted by the militants last week in Afghanistan's border province of Kunar during the Muslim festival of Eid.
Mullah Dadullah, the Taliban commander in Bajaur, said: "If the Pakistan government and the tribal elders do not respond to our demands, we will not free the boys."
Four of the 23 prisoners, aged between 15 and 21 were displayed to reporters during a visit to the area. More then 30 militants with heavy and light weapons accompanied Dadullah. Some of the young prisoners were crying.
The Taliban commander demanded the release of prisoners, including women and children, detained in jails in Peshawar, the main city in the Pakistani northwest, and Bajaur region.
He also demanded the government provide compensation for houses destroyed in Pakistani military operations in Bajaur. He said a Taliban court will decide the fate of the prisoners if there was no response from the authorities or from tribal elders.
A Pakistani military spokesman said last week that 40 young tribesmen were abducted. He said 10 were released and 30 remained captive.
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