World
Abducted Pak envoy to Afghanistan freed
Islamabad | May 17, 2008 4:21:05 PM IST
Tariq Azizzudin, Pakistan's envoy to Afghanistan, who was kidnapped by Afghan militants on February 11 was on Saturday reported to have been released by his captors. "The Ambassador was recovered late on Friday. He is safe and sound," said Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq. The Ambassador, his driver and a guard were kidnapped on while they were on their way to Afghan capital Kabul from Azizzudin's home in Peshawar via the restive Khyber agency in northwest Pakistan. Last month, an Arabic TV channel had aired a video in which Azizzuddin asked Pakistan Government to meet the demands of his allegedly Taliban abductors, including release of some militants. In a deal that the Pakistani authorities negotiated with the militants, the envoy was freed in exchange for the freedom of a few Afghan militants who were in Pakistan's captivity. A couple of weeks back, the Ambassador's family had appealed to the government to ensure his freedom. It is yet unclear whether, Azizzudin who was earlier feared dead, was kidnapped by the Taliban or some other group. A senior Pakistani journalist, while talking to a private news channel confirmed that a few militants were freed in exchange for the release of the envoy. He also named a couple of prominent militants, and claimed that it has been found that the local militia was involved in the abduction along with a few Taliban militants. But the current whereabouts of the envoy are as yet unclear. (ANI)
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