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6 kidnapped in Swat despite Taliban truce
 Militants have kidnapped six Pakistani paramilitary personnel in the Swat Valley hours after security forces rescued four abductees in Kohat. Inconceivable! Pro-Taliban militants in Pakistan's troubled North West Frontier Province (NWFP) kidnapped a paramilitary commander along with five of his personnel while the provincial government has negotiated a peace deal with the region's pro-Taliban insurgents. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack. Inconceivable! Local sources told Press TV that unknown armed men kidnapped a local commander of the Frontier Corps (FC), his four bodyguards and his driver from Qambar area in Swat Valley on Sunday evening. The incident followed an operation carried out by Pakistani forces in NWFP's Kohat district during which nine militants were killed, ten were taken into custody and four hostages were released, a Press TV correspondent reported. Commissioner Malakand conformed the kidnapping of the six, saying that the authorities were contacting Muhammad, Chief of Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat Muhammadi (TNSM) about the abduction. Also on Sunday, two security personnel were injured when unknown militants attacked a security forces convoy in Sarbani area of the scenic valley. It was a first attack on security forces after the recent truce and a spokesman of Pakistan Army said that the attack violated the terms of the agreement. However, Taliban militants said that according to the deal, security forces should inform the Peace Committee before their movement. "The security forces had not informed the members of peace committee about their movement," Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan told reporters. The peace deal signed between Pakistani officials and militant leader Maulana Sufi Muhammad, envisages the implementation of Islamic law (Sharia), and a judicial and court system run by the militants in the region in exchange for and to the attacks on Pakistani forces and civilians. Posted by: Fred 2009-03-02 |
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