KHAR, Oct 13: Two of the 27 children who were kidnapped by militants from near the border area to Kunar province of Afghanistan escaped from their captivity and reached homes in Bajaur Agency late on Wednesday night.

The two cousins identified as Abdullah and Amanullah who went to the border area for picnicking just after Eidul Fitr about one and half months ago, were taken hostage along with 25 other children by militants and kept in captivity in Kunar.

Quoting the children, sources said that they reached their homes in Erab village, 25 kilometres from agency headquarters Khar, via Nakhtar route from Kunar.

They claimed that Taliban deliberately let the children skip and that they might release more children one after the other.

However, political agent Islam Zeb told Dawn that the children had run away from the militants' captivity and were not released.

Attaur Rehman, a resident of Shultan village, confirmed to this correspondent that the two boys had escaped and reached their homes. Mr Atta quoted the children as saying: “We were shifted blindfolded to undisclosed location soon after our detention. Then after some days we were divided into three groups.”

The children said that after a rough deal for some days the militants shifted them to another place where they were allowed to visit nearby fields and even play.

“One day the militants were engaged in gossip and talking on walkie-talkie, and taking advantage of the situation we ran away from there. We don't know whether the militants chased us or not,” Mr Atta further quoted the two boys as saying.

They also said that their militant captors were annoyed with the tribal elders for establishing lashkars against Taliban.

FC FORT INAUGURATED: Inspector General of Frontier Corps Maj-Gen Nadar Zeb while inaugurating FC fort in Lowisam area of Khar tehsil said that the security forces had eliminated militants and established the government's writ in the violence-hit Bajaur region.

Sector commander Brig Nadeem Mirza, acting commandant Bajaur Scouts Col Sajjid, political agent Islam Zeb and other officials and tribal elders were also present on the occasion.

Gen Zeb said that the security forces defeated the militants with the support of tribal elders and now the reconstruction phase had been launched. He said that it was the responsibility of the tribal people now to devise a strategy for peace in their respective areas.