KHYBER AGENCY: Militants released thirty-four tribesmen on Sunday who were kidnapped from Tirah valley in Khyber Agency, DawnNews reported.

Sources said that 40 tribesmen were kidnapped from the opium and hashish selling “grand fair” Saturday from the Haider Kando area of Tirah Valley.

The militants also took away hundreds of kilograms of cannabis and hashish from the area, said the sources.

They added that Sheikmal Khel sub tribesmen of the Qamberkhel tribe were segregated from the others and were taken away by the militants.

At least six tribesmen are still held captive by militants.

According to unofficial sources, the number of kidnapped tribesmen is close to 100 and they had been picked up for their involvement in the drug trade.

Security forces also conducted a search operation in the area to rescue the men, according to the sources.

Other sources claimed that the release of the abductees was made possible through the efforts of tribal elders.

A lush green forested, snow-bound valley, Tirah has long served as one of the smuggling routes between Pakistan and Afghanistan and is approximately an hour's drive away from Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.