Jirga recovers kidnapped soldiers

CHITRAL: The militants on Wednesday released three soldiers, who were kidnapped a week back, after holding successful talks with members of a jirga, official sources said. The sources said the militants had kidnapped the soldiers during an attack on a checkpost at Urson near the Afghan border. One soldier was killed in the assault. The kidnapped soldiers including Mohammad Hasan, Sher Ahmad and Havaldar Khan Shoaib were shifted to Nuristan province of Afghanistan, the sources added. Talking to reporters, District Coordination Officer Rehmatullah Wazir said the soldiers were unconditionally released after the tribesmen hailing from Kamdesh held talks with the kidnappers. Local sources said the kidnappers belonging to Dir Upper district had fled the area after the security forces launched military operation against them last year.

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