Pakistani militants release captured soldiers

Pakistani troops have begun withdrawing from some parts of western Pakistan after militants agreed to release captured soldiers and politicians.

But officials said soldiers will remain in the area while tribal leaders negotiated the handing over of foreign militants.

Eleven soldiers were released this morning and two local officials were expected to be released later today or early on Monday, Brigadier Mahmood Shah, the regional security chief, said. Another soldier escaped before he could be released, he added. Tribal leaders negotiated the release.

Troops also began withdrawing from some parts of Pakistan’s semi-autonomous tribal areas today after what officials called a “successful operation”, Shah said.

“The main objectives of the operation have been achieved. They included destroying dens, searching of homes, taking people into custody and the recovery of gadgets and equipment,” Shah said.

He said the troops would regroup in South Waziristan’s main town of Wana and would remain in the area.

But he said between 500-600 suspected militants may still be hiding along the border with Afghanistan and he did not rule out military force against them.

Shah said the army would continue to use a combination of military operations and talks with tribal leaders to rid the region of suspected al-Qaida forces and allies.

“The army will stay in South Waziristan until the foreigners are flushed out of the area and tribesmen harbouring them are captured.

“In the meantime, military operations and dialogue through the (tribal leaders) will continue,” he said.

About 10,000 Mahsud tribesmen met today near Wana, to help authorities track the perpetrators of an attack on an army convoy last week.

The soldiers and government officials were taken hostage during Pakistan’s largest sweep yet through the western tribal areas, where some groups are suspected to have been sheltering al-Qaida forces.

Late yesterday, military spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan said recently gathered intelligence – combined with eyewitness accounts – indicated that alleged terrorist Tahir Yuldash has been badly wounded and is in hiding.

He admitted that Pakistani forces are not close to capturing him.

“He might have slipped away, he’s on the run,” Sultan said.

Yuldash is the leader of an Uzbek terror group allied with al-Qaida called the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.