November 01, 2008	Saturday	Ziqa'ad 2, 1429

WANA / GHALANAI, Oct 31: Militants freed on Friday 19 paramilitary personnel and two non-combatants they had kidnapped several months ago in South Waziristan and Mohmand tribal regions.

An official said 16 soldiers and two men who supplied rations to security forces were set free in Nawazkot area of South Waziristan. They had been captured by supporters of Baitullah Mehsud, chief of the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, on Jan 15.

Three paramilitary men were freed in Mohmand Agency after negotiations with tribal elders.

Officials said the personnel of Mohmand Rifles had been kidnapped in January and August. Tribal elders Malik Abdur Rehman, Hafiz Saeedur Rehman and Maulana Abdur Rehman held talks with the militants on Thursday night.

Officials claimed that the hostages had been released unconditionally.

Ghalanai Assistant Political Agent Syed Ahmad Jan said: “This was local elders’ own initiative and the administration had nothing to do with the jirga.”

He said the government would not accept any demand of the militants and they would have to lay down weapons before talks could be held with them.

Meanwhile, spy planes flying over various areas of Mohmand Agency for the past four days have caused panic in the area. Local people said the planes entered deep into Pakistani territory on Friday and circled around for more than two hours.