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| India-Pakistan |
| Govt swaps three Taliban for 10 troops |
| 2008-11-07 |
| The government released three Taliban prisoners, including Baitullah Mehsud's deputy Maulvi Rafiuddin, while the Taliban released 10 soldiers taken hostage in Hangu district on Wednesday, official sources said on Thursday. Sources said the exchange, which took place at Thal tehsil of Hangu district, was made possible by the efforts of the Hangu Aman Jirga (peace council) in facilitating talks between the local administration and the Taliban. Hangu district, which has a history of violence between minority Shia and majority Sunni sects, is close to Pakistan's Tribal Areas bordering Afghanistan where Taliban are active. The Taliban released seven soldiers, including Hawaldar Tanveer, Ghulam Mustafa, Imran, Rizwan, Imran Ali, Mohammad Nisar and Arshad, and three Kurram Militia personnel, Shahid, Subhan and Dawar. The three Taliban released on Wednesday were among the seven arrested by the Hangu police in Daoba area on July 9. The Taliban had besieged the Daoba Police Station in retaliation and taken 15 security personnel hostage. The release of the three men had been a key Taliban demand since their arrest in July. Earlier in September, Rafiuddin and the other two Taliban were released on bail by an anti-terrorism court in Kohat but were re-arrested under the Frontier Crimes Regulation for failing to give security for good behaviour. The release was negotiated after tribal elders said Rafiuddin's release would help restore peace in the troubled region. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 That's why you have to kill them. If you don't, they trade them. |
| Posted by: Highlander 2008-11-07 17:20 |
| #1 They should tutor the Israelis on prisoner swaps. They sound like they are a lot better at it. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2008-11-07 10:08 |