13 February 2005	Sunday	03 Muharram 1426

LANDI KOTAL, Feb 12: The rescue teams of the Pakistan Army rescued 16 soldiers from the snow-covered areas of Tirah valley in the Khyber Agency on Saturday morning, but 26 troops are still missing, officials said.

Military sources said that despite hectic rescue operation 26 soldiers could not be located.

An official said that four other soldiers had been spotted, but the teams could not reach them due to cloudy weather.

"We have not lost hope and the remaining soldiers will be recovered as soon as the weather shows any sign of let-up," the source said.

Islamabad deployed troops in the Tirah valley area, close to the Afghanistan's famous Tora Bora mountain, after the US and allied forces launched war against Taliban and Al Qaeda suspects in the year 2001.

The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed that a total 42 soldiers had gone missing in the area due to heavy snowfall, of which 16 had been rescued.

According to the local ISPR officials a rescue party comprising 13 armymen and 19 Khyber Rifles jawans, headed by Lt Rehmatullah of the 64FF, were sent help some personnel who were posted at Kot Mamad and Tirah Kachkol checkpoints along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The rescue party went missing.

Initially, it was feared that they were hit by an avalanche on their way to Kot Mamad post.

The authorities continued air and ground search for the missing soldiers throughout the day on Saturday, but failed to locate them.