TANK, Sept 8: Talks between a tribal jirga and militants aimed at securing release of over 250 soldiers held hostage in South Waziristan produced no positive results and members of the jirga returned to Wana on Saturday. About 13 elders of the Mehsud tribe led by Senator Salih Shah met militants in the Laddah area on Friday and held talks for freeing army and paramilitary soldiers who were captured on Aug 30. Militants had also taken away weapons and 16 military vehicles.

“We held talks with the militants, but there was no progress,” Senator Salih Shah told Dawn by phone. He said the militants were expecting a positive response from the government after releasing six soldiers on Wednesday.

“This is not a deadlock, but in fact no progress was made in Friday’s talks,” the senator said, adding that the militants wanted withdrawal of troops from the Mehsud areas of South Waziristan, release of 18 suspects and abolition of new checkposts before setting free the soldiers.