Pakistan releases Taleban in swap

By M Ilyas Khan
BBC News, Karachi

The Taleban have kidnapped soldiers and officials

Pakistan has set free three Taleban militants, including an important Taleban commander, who were arrested in July, officials said.

Among the freed militants is Commander Maulvi Rafiuddin, a close associate of militant leader, Baitullah Mehsud.

The release was part of a prisoner swap on Wednesday night in which Taleban released 10 Pakistani soldiers, officials said.

The swap took place in the violence-hit Hangu district in the north west.

The district mayor of Hangu, Khan Afzal, told the BBC that the released soldiers included seven personnel of the army and three personnel of the paramilitary Frontier Corps.

He said the swap was negotiated by a tribal council of elders.

'Prized catch'

Maulvi Rafiuddin and his three companions were arrested by the police in early July in Doaba area of Hangu district.

Hundreds of Taleban surrounded Doaba police station soon afterwards to secure their release, but the authorities shifted the prisoners to a safer place.

Taleban kidnapped over a dozen officials in retaliation, and beheaded three of them when their demand for Maulvi Rafiuddin's release was not met.

The incident sparked military action in Doaba region in which at least 13 soldiers and several Taleban militants were killed.

A senior official, Rehman Malik, told reporters in July that Maulvi Rafiuddin was a "prized catch" and the question of his release did not arise.

Police officials in Hangu say nearly 20 kidnapped officials, most of them civilian, are still being held by Baitullah Mehsud's followers.

Mr Mehsud, who leads an alliance of pro-Taleban groups, is accused of masterminding the killing of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. He denied involvement in the attack.