Pakistani Taliban release video of abductees

The video of former intelligence officials and a British journalist Asad Qureshi, who have been kidnapped by Pakistani Taliban, appeared on TV screens on Monday.

Taliban extremists released the video of the abductees who they lifted on charges of spying in Wana while on way to Waziristan from Kohat on March 25 in northwest Pakistan's tribal area.

Former employees of Pakistani intelligence agencies Sultan Ameer with a pseudonym Colonel Imam, Squadron (rtd) Muhammed Khalid Khawja and the British journalist were shown in the video aired by the private Geo TV.

Imam, introducing himself in the video, said he came to Waziristan on advice from Gen (rtd) Aslam Baig.

Khalid Khawja said he came to Waziristan at the bidding of Gen (rtd) Aslam Baig and Gen (rtd) Hameed Gul.

The British abductee urged the government to take steps for release. The abductees said that they have been taken by an organization named Asian Tiger, alleged to be a Taliban militants group.

The TV reports said Imam has been a close friend of Taliban and Khalid is the chief of Defense for Human Rights.

According to sources, Khalid and Imam were in Waziristan in connection with peace negotiations.

A day earlier, local elders held a jirga, or tribal council, with Taliban in Waziristan to negotiate the release of the kidnapped persons. Former members of national assembly Ibrahim Paracha and Shah Abdul Aziz also participated in the jirga.

Source: Xinhua