Pakistani Taliban release eight kidnapped gov’t employees
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
News Code: 80815813
Islamabad, Sept 14, IRNA – Pakistani Taliban on Saturday released eight government employees, who were kidnapped nearly one year ago, at a time when the militants and the government are set to hold peace talks, officials and militants said.
The freed men had been working on a dam project in South Waziristan tribal region when they were kidnapped by the Taliban militants.
A Taliban leader, Ehsanullah Ehsan, said all the employees were freed unconditionally.
A government spokesman in Peshawar also confirmed the release of eight workers, who had been handed over to tribesmen in Waziristan region Saturday morning.
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had released several videos of the abducted employees, who had pleaded their release and asked the government to accept demands of the captors.
The TTP wanted release of some of their prisoners for exchange of the employees.
A tribal council had been in touch with the Taliban for their release and the Taliban agreed to free them at a time when the Taliban and the government are close to begin peace talks.
Taliban spokesman, Shahidullah Shahid, said the eight men were released as a “goodwill gesture.”
The detainees were freed just two after the Gomal Dam Zam dam was formally inaugurated which will produce nearly 27 MW electricity and will irrigate land in the area.
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