Taliban claims prisoners swap with Pakistan military

, Sept 12:

on Wednesday claimed to have exchanged three security men of the Pakistani military in the tribal region of Waziristan for the release of six Taliban fighters. However, the Pakistani Army has rubbished the claim.

The Taliban handed over three security men while securing release of six Taliban members, a Taliban spokesperson said, adding that the freed Taliban belonged to a faction of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in South Waziristan.

He, however, did not say if the prisoners' exchange was part of the possible talks with Pakistani government.

"Talks had been going on for the exchange of prisoners for a long time and both sides reached the agreement," the TTP leader claimed without divulging names of the freed Taliban fighters. But he said they had reached areas of their control in Waziristan.

Meanwhile, a Pakistani Army spokesperson Maj. Gen. Aslam Bajwa told media persons: "The Pakistan military has rejected the news of swap over of any prisoners with Taliban as being reported by a foreign news agency."

On Tuesday, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that the framework for holding talks with the Taliban was ready while denying any foreign pressure over it.

The minister in a press conference said it was the unanimous decision of all political parties and military leadership to hold talks with the Taliban in the best national interest.

IANS