PESHAWAR, July 21: Authorities in the North Waziristan tribal region are considering to offer more concessions as militants on Friday freed four paramilitary troops, reciprocating the release of their men by the government on Thursday.

“This is our gift to the government,” Abdullah Farhad, militants’ spokesman told Dawn on phone.

The four paramilitary men from the Shawal Scouts had been seized by militants from the Razmak Road three months ago.

The four included two from the Mehsud tribe, one each from the Bhittani and Khattak tribes. They were handed over to a group of intermediaries led by JUI (F) MNA Maulana Nek Zaman.

“It was an exchange and a goodwill gesture,” Farhad said. “The intermediaries brought with them our 32 men released by the government on Thursday and we have handed over to them the four paramilitary soldiers.”

The exchange of prisoners took place at an undisclosed location outside Miramshah at around 1pm on Friday.

Credible sources said that the government was considering offering another set of concessions, including the release of some more of the remaining 30-plus militants still in custody.

An official said that authorities had relocated 62 militants from prisons in Dera Ismail Khan and Bannu to lockups in Miramshah, of whom 32 had already been released.

“The remaining militants may be released in small batches as talks with militants get under way and things begin to move forward,” the official said.

It is also considering removing four more paramilitary checkposts to the east and west of Miramshah, North Waziristan’s regional headquarters, and tehsil headquarters Mirali.

The checkposts to be vacated would be in addition to the two dismantled on Thursday to meet a key demands by militants calling for the removal of all six recently-established checkposts.

Local tribesmen, however, warned that the measure would ease restrictions on display and carrying of arms and allow militants to roam freely in the area.

The exchange of prisoners took place as an inter-tribal jirga took a day off to allow a small group of intermediaries to hold preliminary talks with militants.

But Abdullah Farhad said no invitation had so far come from the 45-member jirga for talks with militants.

The jirga is expected to start working from Saturday. Hafiz Gul Bahadar is expected to lead militants’ shura in the talks.

Abdullah Farhad said that any extension in the ceasefire would depend on what the jirga had to offer. “We will see what they bring with them,” he said.

Governor NWFP, Lt-Gen (retd) Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai said: “There is no policy of appeasement,” he told Dawn. He said that the jirga had been given a clear mandate.

“Nothing is being left out. It is going to be very comprehensive,” Governor Aurakzai said when asked whether the issue of foreign militants and cross-border infiltration into Afghanistan would be part of a peace agreement.”

He avoided giving the specifics of government agenda for talks with militants, saying confidentiality was the hallmark of the jirga’s deliberations. “For any jirga to succeed, confidentiality is very important.”