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| India-Pakistan |
| Pak Taliban demand release of arrested militants |
| 2008-07-16 |
| (PTI) Pakistani Taliban, holding 29 officials and troops hostage, today demanded the government end military operations in the troubled northwest Hangu district and release seven militants arrested from the area. The Taliban conveyed their demands during talks with a tribal 'jirga' or council led by parliamentarian Pir Haider Ali Shah. The militants also released a local government official they had abducted last week, but were still holding another 29 officials and security personnel they had taken hostage on Friday during a foray into Doaba town in Hangu district of North West Frontier Province (NWFP). The Doaba area has witnessed heightened tension between the Taliban and security forces after seven militants were arrested during a sweep on Thursday. The Taliban had besieged the Doaba police station demanding the release of their arrested colleagues. The militants withdrew after the army was deployed in the area but took 29 hostages before leaving Doaba. Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan spokesman Maulvi Omar said the militants would not attack government troops if the authorities do not take action any against them. Omar also rejected Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani's statement about the presence of foreign elements in the tribal areas. He said the Taliban would be the first line of defence if US or NATO forces from Afghanistan carry out any attack on Pakistani territory. The Taliban would turn the tribal areas into a "graveyard" for the US-led coalition forces, he said. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Demand? Are they in any position to demand anything? There is a lot of demanding that goes on in that part of the world. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2008-07-16 11:19 |