Operations in Pakistan’s Frontier / Tribal Areas
I didn't see any mention of this here. Thought it will be interesting for some.
Sorry if is re-post.
Taliban Ambushes Pakistani Convoy, Seizes 100 Troops
In an audacious display of force, Taliban fighters on Thursday ambushed a convoy of military vehicles in a remote tribal area and took more than 100 Pakistani troops hostage, local officials said.
The convoy of more than a dozen vehicles was traveling between two towns in the South Waziristan area, near the Afghan border, when it was overtaken by fighters, officials said.
"Our group has surrounded and disarmed the convoy of Pakistani soldiers and they have been made hostages," said Zulfiqar Mehsud, a purported Taliban spokesman.
Mehsud, who said the troops had been taken to "our prisons," accused the government of violating a pledge not to send soldiers into the area. He said the Taliban had meticulously planned the ambush.
...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...083001395.html
Confusion over missing Pakistanis
The fate of scores of Pakistani troops missing near the Afghan border is in doubt amid conflicting claims from militants and the army.
Pro-Taleban rebels say they are holding 300 men in South Waziristan after surrounding and disarming them.
The army said no troops were seized, but about 100 men could not move as they were caught up in fighting between militants and pro-government tribesmen.
Reports say frantic talks are going on to secure the men a passage to safety.
...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6973387.stm
Over 200 soldiers in captivity of militants
Colonel, nine other officers among hostages
Some 208 soldiers of the Pakistan Army and the Frontier Corps are in the custody of tribal militants led by their commander Baitullah Mahsud in South Waziristan Agency, credible sources told The News on Friday.
Despite repeated denials by the government till Friday that the soldiers had been taken hostage, people close to the militants confirmed to The News that the militants had seized 208 security personnel.
The government on Friday sent a 50-member Jirga comprising prominent tribal elders and Ulema from all the three subsections of the Mahsud tribe and people from the 21-member peace committee to the militants to persuade them to release the kidnapped security personnel without any condition.
The militants claimed they had been promised complete withdrawal of security forces from Ladha and other areas inhabited by the Mahsud tribesmen after recent talks between them and the 21-member peace committee and Mahsud tribal grand Jirga under which they had released the 19 kidnapped FC personnel.
“Instead of withdrawal, the government wanted to deploy more troops in the area for likely action against them (militants),” said the sources while quoting tribal militants as saying. They said the militants admitted to have kidnapped all the 208 security personnel and shifted them to their hideouts.
...
http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=9870
Govt pushes for talks to get troops freed: ‘Soldiers surrendered without firing a shot’
With the government appearing in disarray over the seizure of more than 150 soldiers in the restive South Waziristan tribal agency, militants on Friday seized in the Frontier Region’s Jandola area four vehicles along with five drivers. The vehicles were carrying rations for security forces.
Though the exact number of missing soldiers was yet to be confirmed, security officials put the number at 156.
However, tribal sources claimed that the number of security personnel held hostage was about 205, including 105 regular troops and 100 personnel of the Frontier Corps. A colonel, three majors and some captains were among the personnel seized by militants.
...
http://www.dawn.com/2007/09/01/top1.htm
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks