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Fighters 'seize Pakistan troops' | |
(40 minutes later) | |
Scores of Pakistani soldiers are missing near the Afghanistan border amid claims from pro-Taleban militants that they have kidnapped 300 men. | |
More than 100 army personnel are unaccounted for, according to officials in the South Waziristan region. | More than 100 army personnel are unaccounted for, according to officials in the South Waziristan region. |
A Muslim militant group said it had taken the troops because the government was not honouring a recent peace deal. | |
There has been rising violence in the region in recent months, with at least 60 soldiers and 250 militants killed. | There has been rising violence in the region in recent months, with at least 60 soldiers and 250 militants killed. |
Several peace deals between the government and rebels have collapsed. | Several peace deals between the government and rebels have collapsed. |
US officials have described the tribal areas near the Afghan border as an al-Qaeda safe haven. | US officials have described the tribal areas near the Afghan border as an al-Qaeda safe haven. |
Deal accusation | Deal accusation |
A spokesman for rebel leader Baitullah Mehsud told the BBC that the army convoy had been surrounded and the soldiers disarmed. | |
The alleged incident came two days after 18 soldiers were freed by militants following a deal brokered by tribal chiefs. | |
"It has been only 48 hours and they have started their operations again," the spokesman said. | "It has been only 48 hours and they have started their operations again," the spokesman said. |
The army, which said at the time that the release of the hostages had been unconditional, has so far not confirmed the latest apparent kidnapping. | The army, which said at the time that the release of the hostages had been unconditional, has so far not confirmed the latest apparent kidnapping. |
Violence has soared in the region since troops were sent into Islamabad's Red Mosque to flush out Islamists in July. More than 100 people died in the operation. |