KHAR:
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of more than 30 young people who inadvertently crossed the border into Afghanistan.
A spokesman for the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) said those kidnapped were not young boys as reported by Pakistani officials but aged between 20 and 30, adding their fate would be decided by the central leadership of the organisation.
“We have kidnapped them. These people are with us, they are not kids but young people of ages between 20 and 30,” Taliban spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan told AFP by telephone from an undisclosed location.
“These people belong to the areas where tribesmen raised militias against the TTP. We will thoroughly investigate about them and then our central leadership will decide their fate,” Ehsan said.
Pakistani officials had said the incident took place on Thursday after a group of boys, aged between 12 and 18, left the Ghakhi area of Bajaur during Eidul Fitr celebrations.
Bajaur administration official Islam Zeb said the boys had been abducted by a militant group allied with Taliban commander Maulvi Faqir Muhammad, who led local insurgents but is believed to have fled to Afghanistan in 2010.
Zeb told AFP on Saturday that a delegation of Pakistani tribesmen is negotiating with the tribal elders in Afghanistan “to put pressure on the kidnappers to set them free”.
“A tribal Jirga has been sent to Kunar for negotiations,” Zeb said.
Malik Ayaz, a tribal elder involved in negotiations, said that Pakistani tribesmen are facing difficulties securing the safe release of the abductees as the border area is mostly controlled by the Taliban.
An eye-witness account
Mohammad Akhtar, a witness who managed to flee the mass kidnap, said dozens of young people were in the area.
“We were there to enjoy our Eid vacations and all of a sudden the Taliban attacked,” he said.
“Some people managed to flee the area because they were a bit away from the attack site,” he said.
“We were there just for fun to see the mountainous areas and to enjoy,” he added.
Afghan border police commander General Aminullah Amarkhel, the governor of Kunar Fazlullah Wahidi and the local Afghan Taliban commander all told AFP on Friday they were unaware of the incident.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 4th, 2011.
COMMENTS (19)
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Maria, Thanks for bringing up terrorism. Here are some of the leading terrorists of our times: - Khalid Sheikh Muhommad (Pakistani, caotured in Karachi). - Usama Bin Laden (took shelter in Abbotabad, Pakistan). - Omar Sheikh (Pakistani who operated for Jaish-e-Muhommad, in Kashmir). - Hafeez Saeed (Pakistani leader of banned LeT). - Ramzi Yusuf (Pakistani who plotted and executed first WTC bombing). - Aimal Kansi (Pakistani who shot CIA officers in USA). ... and the list goes on.
Oh, speaking of India, Ajmal Kasab, a Pakistani terrorist, is still in India's custody.
@Maria: You're the type that thinks they're right and a winner of a debate after someone walks away from feeling like they're talking to a wall, aren't you?
Please let go of the India/RAW mantra and open your eyes. Ask the hazaras in quetta and the tooris in parachinar if they think it is India. NO. they blame the army and isi for first harboring them and now not doing anything because they want to use them again once the US leaves from afghanistan. These two groups(hazaras and tooris) are targetted because they are shia and because they do not support any militant activity in their regions. (if you have the stomach, search for videos of torture done by taliban to parachinaris) Some of them also now predict the downfall of Pakistan even though they themselves are Pakistani. And can you blame them? when their own army has forgotten them. It lets citizens of its own country be killed by foreign fighters and does nothing. And the rest of Pakistan is busy in conspiracy theories. So what will be the fate of such a nation. The same sentiment is also shared by some people in swat and KP and of course balochistan. Wake up for gods sake wake up.
Indian agents and their handlers should be the biggest suspect in these heinous crimes. Pakistani borders need tight security. Where is the military? They should be on duty with tight security on all of their borders. If the military is not participating in protecting the cities, then atleast, it should show its strength in its border protection. Remember India is watching with its Big Eyes and sniffing for weak spots!!!
@Maria: You worry about your country. Kashmir is an integral part of India and will always remain so. Just to remind you, long time ago it was a Hindu kingdom. Just because we sing the song of secularism doesnt mean we are going to take nonsense for long. Forget Kashmir and also to remind you many Kashmiri Hindus were thrown out by the separatists, they are living wretched lives in camps. One of my friends who is Kashmiri told me this. Good way of ethnic cleansing! Try to keep the regions in your country together and don't tell us that we are funding the Afghans to fight against any country. We genuinely love them and will never use them. I hope you understand what I have reiterated. If you don't it is sad. And saying that you will not jump in glee 'what kind of language is that?'. Let us know what has been the development in the part of Kashmir which is in Pakistan?
So much for "freedom fighters" --- you can blame India, USA, and Israel all you want but when the day is done I suggest you look in the mirror --- it's time Pakistan eliminate the Taliban. Others have offered to help you but you have turned them down -- that makes it hard for some to have much sympathy for Pakistan.
It is better to negotiate with their leadership Mr. Imran Khan and JI. Mr. Imran Khan always says that he is prepared to talk with Talibans on all issues, so contact him for their safety return back. What a pathetic situation in our country where many so called politicians have soft corner for these elements but the state can do nothing worthwhile against them.
Nothing new. Sufi Mohammad of Swat took 10,000 children of Malakand to Afghanistan in 2001 to fight the US. Only 500 survived. Parents wanted to hang this fanatic, but the military establishment took him under protective custody. It was the same Sufi Mohammad, who according to Imran, had brought quick justice when Taliban took over Swat.
So who are the Zionist/CIA/raw agents in this story - the kidnappers, the kids, the parents, or all three?
What a brilliant policy of 'strategic depth'. We raise poisonous snakes and later wonder why we get stung.
Are these Taliban human beings or beasts? They use innocent children for their blood thirsty games. The Government should use all its might to get release of these boys.
It is a wake up call for all TTP apologists in Pakistan and also those who call them as Indian agents. This outfit has mercilessly killed innocent people including women and children in mosques and public places and now abducted innocent children on the holy day of 'Eid'. Its time to act decisively against this outfit and also not give them any room to take control of the country.
What does Imran Khan PTI brigade say about this. Shall we negotiate with them now? Obviously right? They are just disgruntled natinalists right? Showing their might by kidnapping children! Pathetic!
@rusm: These anti state criminals are on the payroll of India and their lackeys in Afghanistan so what is the difference. And tell me, what does India deserve for over 60 years of state terror against the people of Kashmir and denying a United Nations resolution on letting the people their rejoin Pakistan? I'm not going to be so mean as you to jump with glee when innocent Indian kids are harmed and say India deserves it since it is terrorizing Kashmiris.
I know, let's make peace deals and negotiations with these kind Pakistani Taliban. Right, Imran Khan and JI/IJI?
lol. and pakistanis feel threatened by India.
you ppl deserve what you are getting, by giving these same religious parties political support
Where are the supporters of Taliban, Jamat-e-Islami, PTI and other right-wing fanatics? Will they please shed some light on this matter? Kidnapping and molesting children is what they will call Jihad against Pak Army and NATO forices. Oh may be, I took it completely wrong! These innocent children have been kidnapped by "RAW" and "CIA" in order to bring bad name to pious Taliban. May be, loadshedding in our country is also somehow caused by RAW and CIA.
So where are those who were termed it 'another attempt by liberals to achieve their nefarious goals'