100 Mehsud tribesmen released

TANK (South Waziristan)—The Political Administration of South Waziristan Agency has released about 100 tribesmen of Mehsud tribe, arrested by the administration in retaliation against kidnapping of over 100 FC personnel on August 30 last.
The release was made paossible after successful talks of the 21 members’ Amn jirga, with the political authorities of the agency on Monday. Senator Saleh Shah a member of the grand tribal jirga engaged in release of the hostages’ told APP on that he apprised the Political Agent South Waziristan Hussain Zada and Brigadier Muhammad Hanif about his negotiations with militant leader Baitullah Mehsud.
Assistant Political Agent SWA Khaista Rehman said that the Mehsud tribesmen have been released as a matter of goodwill gesture. The members of the Amn Jirga have hailed decision of the administration and said it would pacify the situation between the local Taliban and the government.
Meanwhile, the tribal Amn jirga held talks with the local Taliban in Ladha mountains for the release of the abducted FC troops. The jirga sources expressed the optimism that talks would be successful and the hostages would be released by Tuesday.—APP