LANDI KOTAL, Aug 25: Local Taliban in Bara set free a resident of Punjab province on Monday in exchange of their two colleagues, who were held by Lashkar-i-Islam, sources said.

Taliban had kidnapped Mohammad Wasim some two weeks ago from Bara bazaar. A local journalist, who is a close friend of the kidnapped person, had also received a bullet injury on his thigh when he resisted their move.

Soon after the incident Lashkar-i-Islam activists picked up two Taliban supporters identified as Ishaq and Umar and demanded release of Mr Wasim. According to sources in Bara, Taliban leadership insisted that Mr Wasim was wanted by them in a monetary dispute since long.After prolonged negotiations by local mediators, Taliban agreed to set free the kidnapped person in exchange of their colleagues, held by the Lashkar-i-Islam. The three captives were swapped on Monday.

EYE CAMP: The Fata Health Directorate organised a 4-day free eye camp in Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency. A team of eye specialists and surgeons headed by Dr Uzma Dawood examined about 1,500 eye patients and provided them free medicines and glasses.

On the first day of the camp, surgeons carried out five operations. However, their task was seriously hampered by prolong loadshedding of electricity as they started operations after midday. Dogra hospital management had to arrange a generator for an uninterrupted power supply.

Opinion

Editorial

Sustainable path?
Updated 13 Jun, 2026

Sustainable path?

The FY27 budget is the first clear signal that the government is ready to transition from stabilisation to growth.
Prioritising education
13 Jun, 2026

Prioritising education

THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it ...
Poverty’s rise
13 Jun, 2026

Poverty’s rise

AS attention turns to the government’s plans for the coming fiscal year, one set of figures deserves particular...
A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...