TANK, Nov 3: Armed forces personnel held hostage by militants in South Waziristan since Aug 30 are likely to be released on Sunday amid reports of a deal between the government and militants.

Well-placed sources told Dawn that the government would free 25 militants.

Eight officers were among the hostages. Militants have already released 31 soldiers while three were killed.

Former MNA Maulvi Mirajuddin described the talks held with Baitullah Mehsud’s men as successful and said the release of all hostages was expected by Sunday.

The sources said that Maulvi Nek Zaman and Maulana Assamuddin held talks with the militants on Saturday to finalise the deal.

Political authorities will convene a jirga of the Mehsud tribe in Saam area on Sunday morning. Sources said the government had agreed to hand over 25 militants to the jirga, while Baitullah Mehsud would release all the hostages.

The sources said that seven suspects arrested on charges of organising suicide bombings had been taken from a prison in Dera Ismail Khan on Friday to some other place, while 18 other suspects were shifted from Islamabad.

A senior official told Dawn in Peshawar that under the deal, the Sararogha peace agreement between the government and militants would be implemented, adding that Baitullah had assured his full support for peace efforts in the region.

“The government will get the soldiers released on Sunday and some of their (militants) people will also be released,” the official said.

The sources also said that Baitullah Mehsud had given an assurance that all foreigners would be expelled from the area and the process would be completed before Eid.