A serving Pakistani lieutenant colonel and his three relatives who were abducted earlier this week by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan have been released, sources told CNN-News18 on Sunday.
“Safe and unconditional release of Lt Col Khalid Ameer and three of his other relatives have been secured due to the role played by tribal elders and local notables,” the army said in a statement.
According to the sources, the local tribal leaders and elders played a crucial role in the process of releasing the official and his relatives.
The tribal leaders, locals, and even Afghan Taliban leaders negotiated on their behalf to release the lieutenant colonel.
Lieutenant Colonel Khalid, two of his brothers, and a nephew were kidnapped by armed men in the Kulachi tehsil while attending a family funeral, security sources told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Radio Mashaal.
The TTP had released a video of lieutenant colonel and Asif where they were requesting that the demands of the TTP be met to ensure their safety and secure their release.
They had also asked not to make a hue and cry about the issue on social media and defame the TTP.
The TTP had claimed responsibility for the abduction in a message to Radio Mashaal, adding that those taken were safe.
The incident came after the Pakistani government had launched an operation against militants that it said are infiltrating from neighbouring Afghanistan.
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