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| Militants free Pakistani soldiers | Militants free Pakistani soldiers |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Eighteen soldiers and an official held hostage by pro-Taleban militants in Pakistan's South Waziristan region have been released, officials say. | Eighteen soldiers and an official held hostage by pro-Taleban militants in Pakistan's South Waziristan region have been released, officials say. |
| Sixteen soldiers were abducted earlier this month. One was later killed. Three other soldiers and the official were kidnapped in the area last week. | Sixteen soldiers were abducted earlier this month. One was later killed. Three other soldiers and the official were kidnapped in the area last week. |
| There has been rising violence in the region after peace deals between the government and tribesmen collapsed. | There has been rising violence in the region after peace deals between the government and tribesmen collapsed. |
| At least 60 soldiers and 250 militants have died in region in the past months. | At least 60 soldiers and 250 militants have died in region in the past months. |
| Members of a local tribal council reached a deal with the militants leading to the release of the soldiers early on Tuesday. | Members of a local tribal council reached a deal with the militants leading to the release of the soldiers early on Tuesday. |
| "We can confirm the hostages have been released and handed over to the tribal members," army spokesman Maj Gen Waheed Arshad told the BBC. | "We can confirm the hostages have been released and handed over to the tribal members," army spokesman Maj Gen Waheed Arshad told the BBC. |
| Gen Arshad said the release was unconditional, and denied any militants had been freed to secure the soldiers' release. | Gen Arshad said the release was unconditional, and denied any militants had been freed to secure the soldiers' release. |
| But sources told the BBC some captured militants would be "quietly released" in return. | |
| On Monday, the militants released a video showing one of the hostages being beheaded. | On Monday, the militants released a video showing one of the hostages being beheaded. |
| Increased attacks | Increased attacks |
| Pakistan has seen increased attacks against its security forces in recent weeks. | Pakistan has seen increased attacks against its security forces in recent weeks. |
| The attacks followed a bloody battle with radical Islamists last month at the Red Mosque in Islamabad in which more than 100 people died. | The attacks followed a bloody battle with radical Islamists last month at the Red Mosque in Islamabad in which more than 100 people died. |
| The 16 abducted 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. | The 16 abducted 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 in neighbouring Balochistan province. | Mahsud died last month in a raid near the city of Zhob in neighbouring Balochistan province. |
| Last week, the beheaded body of one of the hostages - Laiq Hussain - was found in a field near a military base in the town of Jandola. | Last week, the beheaded body of one of the hostages - Laiq Hussain - was found in a field near a military base in the town of Jandola. |
| Three other soldiers and a government official were taken hostage by the militants near the village of Laddha in the region last week. | Three other soldiers and a government official were taken hostage by the militants near the village of Laddha in the region last week. |