Taliban frees six tribal elders: official

Afghan Taliban. – Photo by Reuters (File) KABUL: Taliban militants have freed six out of 21 tribal elders kidnapped in eastern Afghanistan close Pakistan’s lawless border area around ten days ago, a provincial police chief said Tuesday. A local official told AFP Monday that a group of the rebels had kidnapped the elders in Kunar province, near the Pakistani border where Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked networks have carved out strongholds. Taliban commander, Qari Zia-ur-Rahman, told AFP via a text message that the elders were abducted because "some relatives, sons and close family members of these men, work in the Afghan army, Afghan police and some with NATO". Provincial police chief Khalilulah Zeyayee confirmed that "six elders were released by Taliban" on Monday night with the help of a tribal community council. Negotiations were ongoing for the release of the remaining hostages, he said adding no concessions had been made to Taliban demands. Qari Zia-ur-Rahman initially said the militants would not release the elders until their sons and relatives "resign their jobs with the army, police and NATO." – AFP