Taliban release eight NGO workers abducted near Quetta in July

Wana (Pakistan), Oct 4(ANI): Eight aid workers belonging to a foreign non-governmental organisation (NGO) have been released by the Taliban in Pakistan's South Waziristan Agency.

The aid workers had been abducted from Pishin, about 50 kilometres north of Quetta, while returning from an Afghan refugee camp in July, The Express Tribune reports.

The NGO workers, who worked at two dispensaries in the camp, were shifted to Taliban hideouts in Waziristan, from where they were taken to Wana and released on Monday night, the report said.

According to sources cited by Express 24/7, a heavy ransom had been paid for the aid workers' release, although officials did not confirm this, the report added.

Balochistan has been witnessing a sharp rise in kidnappings, and this is the fourth incident in and around Quetta in recent months.

A Swiss couple had been kidnapped from Loralai and after 16 days, five officials of the Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation were kidnapped from Sorange coal mines, a suburb of Quetta.

The Taliban and other militant groups have been engaged in kidnappings for ransom or as leverage to have their arrested members released. (ANI)