QUETTA, July 15: Talks between Pakistan and Afghan border officials for the release of four Pakistani Levies men remained inconclusive. They were kidnapped by armed Afghans two days ago from Bramcha area of Chagai district.

"The Pakistani team returned to Dalbandin on Thursday after fruitless talks," official sources said, claiming that the Afghan officials took a tough line and refused to release the Pakistanis.

The sources further said that the Afghan officials had shifted the four Pakistanis to Kandahar from Helmand province and informed the Pakistani officials and tribal elders that further talks would be held on a government level.

The Afghan officials insisted during the two days of negotiations with Pakistani authorities that the area of Killi Abdul Wahid should be handed over to them for the construction of houses. They claimed that the controversial land belonged to Afghanistan.

However, the Pakistani delegation did not agree with them and stressed for early release of the detained men unconditionally. "We tried our best to convince the Afghan officials and tribal elders for the release of the levies men," the official sources told this correspondent.

"More talks would be held with the Afghan government for the release of the Levies men," a member of the Pakistani negotiation team said, adding that further negotiations were expected in the next two days.