Updated on
Summary
The militants have released 50 people out of 60 kidnapped on Saturday in Pakistan's restive northwest on Sunday. The militants dressed as policemen kidnapped at least 60 people in two incidents in the ethnic Pashtun tribal region of Kurram, where government forces have recently stepped up an anti-militant offensive. Negotiations involving tribal elders were underway for the release of the remaining 10 hostages, believed to be employees of the state power company; regional government official Mumtaz Khan told a news agency. Pakistani government officials have accused Pakistani Taliban militants of carrying out kidnappings after coming under pressure from security crackdowns in Kurrum and other areas.Taliban officials were not immediately available for comment.Some kidnappings in the region were believed to have been carried out by tribes. Hameedullah Khan, a tribal elder, had a different account of what happened with the hostages, saying militants released 40, while 10 escaped. He was optimistic those still being held would be freed.In the meantime, 13 militants were killed and 10 others injured when the Pakistani forces pounded their hideouts in Orakzai Agency on Sunday. The military has stepped up operation in the abovesaid area of late.
