Elders intensify efforts to free Turkish hostages

PUL-I-ALAM (PAN‘s captivity in central Logar province, as officials hoped for an early end to the episode.

The insurgents abducted eight Turks, a Russian, a Kyrgyz man and an Afghan after their helicopter made an emergency landing due to bad weather on Sunday in Azra district.

Logar provincial council chief, Dr. Abdul Wali Wakil, told Pajhwok Afghan News tribal elders had been allowed by the captors to talk to the hostages.

He said the elders were still holding negotiations with the insurgents and a breakthrough was expected. One of the eight Turkish engineers had a heart problem and he was delivered medicine through the elders.

Governor Arsala Jamal said he was in contact with the hostages and elders continued to make efforts at securing their release. He added all the held captives were in good health and their release was expected soon.

A day earlier, the Hesarak district chief in eastern Nangarhar province, Abdul Khaliq Maroof, said the hostages had been shifted to the town.

Interior Ministry spokesman Siddique Siddiqui confirmed negotiations for the release of the hostages were underway.

Hours later the seizure, the Taliban claimed it was a military helicopter that belonged to foreign troops and those made hostages were American soldiers. But ISAF said the helicopter was not a military one and no soldier was on board.

ma/mud

Visits: 0