By Xinhua
Islamabad : Militants in Pakistan’s South Waziristan tribal area freed 15 abducted soldiers Tuesday, media reports said.
Four hostages are still in captivity, Dawn News said, adding they would also be released soon.
A tribal jirga (meeting) made efforts to secure the release of abducted soldiers by negotiating with the militants who eventually agreed to release the hostages Monday. However, the jirga of tribal elders preferred Tuesday morning for security reasons.
The jirga would take all the released soldiers to Wana, a major town in South Waziristan and hand them over to the political administration.
Militants on Aug 9 kidnapped as many as 16 paramilitary soldiers in South Waziristan. One of them was later killed.
The militants last Thursday captured three more paramilitary soldiers and a government official who were sent by the political administration to talk to abductors.
The security situation in the Waziristan tribal area bordering Afghanistan deteriorated since militants in north scrapped a peace deal July 15 signed with the government in September last year.
The militants continually launched attacks on security forces and triggered clashes that left more than 250 militants and 60 security men dead since early July.