Taliban on Saturday claimed responsibility for the abduction of 25 children from the Ghakhi Pass area of Bajaur Agency after which tribal elders from Mamoond tehsil accelerated efforts for the early and safe recovery of the children.
Taliban spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan claimed responsibility for the abduction of 30 children, saying, “We have kidnapped them.
These people are with us, they are not kids but young people of ages between 20 to 30.” “These people belong to the areas where tribesmen formed lashkars against the TTP, adding that the proper forum to decide their fate would be the Taliban Shura. But a tribal elder from Bajaur said they had not received any demand from the Taliban so far. Malik Sultanzeb from Mamoond tribe told Pakistan Today that they were in contact with the elders from border regions of Afghanistan and were hopeful that the matter would be resolved soon, adding that they had received a positive response from across the border.
Reports from Khar revealed that elders from Mamoond tehsil had established contacts across the border in Afghanistan for the safe recovery of the children.
The governor of Afghanistan’s Kunar province, Fazalullah Wahidi, has also deputed a 35-member team to discuss ways and means for the release of the children.
