A tribal jirga making efforts to secure the release of over 100 security men kidnapped in Pakistan's tribal area said that talks with militants would be successful and the hostages would be released by Tuesday, the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported on Monday.
A spokesman of the Political Administration of South Waziristan also confirmed that the hostages would be released in next 24 hours.
The Political Administration of South Waziristan Agency released about 100 tribesmen of Mehsud tribe, arrested by the administration in retaliation against the kidnapping of over 100 security men on Aug.30.
The Assistant Political Agent of South Waziristan Agency Khaista Rehman said that the Mehsud tribesmen were released as a matter of good-will gesture. The members of tribal Jirga hailed decision of the administration and said it would pacify the situation between the local militants and the government.
Local media reported that around 120 paramilitary soldiers from Frontier Corps were traveling in vehicles when armed men kidnapped them in South Waziristan. The soldiers were going from Wana, the center of South Waziristan, to Ladha, a town in the region, when abducted by the some armed militants on Aug.30.
(Xinhua News Agency September 4, 2007)
