Talks on abducted Pakistan troops

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Tribal elders are meeting in Pakistan's South Waziristan district to find a way to secure the release of 16 soldiers held hostage by militants.

The troops went missing near the Afghan border on Thursday and tribal officials say the Taleban want a prisoner swap.

Pakistan has recently seen increased attacks on the security services.

The attacks followed a bloody battle with radical Islamists last month at the Red Mosque in Islamabad in which more than 100 people died.

A three-day deadline for the release of the soldiers, given by the local administration to the Mahsud tribe, in whose area the troops went missing, has expired.

Demands

An army spokesman declined to comment on reports that the militants were seeking the release of 10 Taleban prisoners in exchange for the troops.

But an officials of the tribal administration confirmed to the BBC that the kidnappers were seeking the release of Taleban prisoners who were being held on charges of blowing up music stores and possessing jackets lined with explosives used by suicide bombers.

Senior local official Yahya Khan said the administration had received information about the militants' demands but these have not yet been submitted formally through a "proper forum".

Observers say a local "jirga" or tribal council, constituted by the administration to negotiate the troops' release, is expected to formally submit the militants' demand on Monday.

Meanwhile, there are reports of troops movement in the area, sparking speculation of renewed military action against militants.

The 16 soldiers went missing after leaving in a convoy for the Sararogha area of South Waziristan, a stronghold of the recently killed militant leader Abdullah Mahsud.

Mahsud died last month in a raid near the city of Zhob, Balochistan province.