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Abducted Pakistan troops 'freed' Talks held on Pakistan peace deal
(about 2 hours later)
Ten paramilitary soldiers kidnapped by suspected Taleban militants in north-west Pakistan have been freed, authorities say. Talks have been held in north-west Pakistan in an effort to shore up a peace deal with the Taleban.
More than 50 militants had stormed the military headquarters in the town of Dir and abducted the soldiers. The cleric who negotiated the deal met North West Frontier Province officials and called for an end to the current army operation against the Taleban.
There are few details of the release, though the authorities say the move followed talks with local leaders. Both sides said they backed the peace deal but no agreement was concluded on a truce.
The military this week launched an operation against militants in the Dir and Buner regions. The military said on Friday between 55 and 60 militants had been killed in fighting in the past 24 hours.
The Pakistani government and some Western nations are concerned that the Taleban are trying to extend their influence beyond the Swat Valley, an area which they largely control already. The talks were held between the cleric Sufi Muhammad and Mian Iftikhar Hussain, the information minister of NWFP, in the town of Timergara, in Lower Dir.
See a map of the region See a map of the region
The Taleban and the government of North West Frontier Province this year agreed a deal that would bring Sharia law to large parts of the region in return for an end to the insurgency. Mr Hussain said: "Everything is being done to end militancy. Everything is being done for peace."
The meeting was described as positive, with both sides backing the peace deal. Future talks are planned but no date has been set.
Sufi Muhammad said there could be no direct talks with the Taleban until the military operation ended.
Thousands of civilians have fled in Buner and Dir
But the military has said it will continue its offensive to remove militants from the Lower Dir and Buner regions.
The Pakistani government and some Western nations are concerned that the Taleban are trying to extend their influence beyond the Swat Valley, an area which they largely control already.
The Taleban and the NWFP government this year agreed a deal that would bring Sharia law to large parts of the region in return for an end to the insurgency.
However, the Taleban have not laid down their arms.However, the Taleban have not laid down their arms.
Civilians fleeCivilians flee
The paramilitary soldiers had been abducted at 0200 on Friday (2200 GMT Thursday) after the insurgents surrounded their checkpoint, police said. On Friday military spokesman Maj-Gen Athar Abbas said: "Fifty-five to 60 militants have been killed in the fighting over the past 24 hours [in Buner]."
They said the militants took a large quantity of arms and ammunition.
The army operation is continuing in Buner, although the militants have been driven out of most parts, officials say.
The area is less than 100km (60 miles) from the capital, Islamabad.The area is less than 100km (60 miles) from the capital, Islamabad.
Tens of thousands of people have fled the fighting in Dir and Buner.Tens of thousands of people have fled the fighting in Dir and Buner.
The increase in army activity follows criticism from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that Pakistan was abdicating to the Taleban. Earlier, suspected Taleban militants abducted and then released 10 paramilitary soldiers in the Dir area.
The paramilitary soldiers were abducted at 0200 on Friday (2200 GMT Thursday) after the insurgents surrounded their checkpoint, police said.
There were few details of the release, though the authorities said the move followed talks with local leaders.
They said the militants had taken a large quantity of arms and ammunition.
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