KHAR, Jan 5: Seventeen children have escaped from militants’ captivity in Kunar province of Afghanistan and reached their homes in Mamond tehsil of Bajaur tribal region on Thursday.

According to sources, they crossed the border early in the morning and reached their homes late in the night. The children belonged to different parts of the tehsil.

So far 22 of about 30 children of Mamond kidnapped by Taliban in September on the first day of Eidul Fitr when they had mistakenly crossed into Afghanistan have returned.

However, an official of Bajaur administration said the children had been released without any condition or payment of ransom.