Taliban take 35 policemen hostage in NW Pakistan

Videos
Photos

Taliban frees 2 journalists kidnapped in NW Pakistan
NATO, Afghan forces fight Taliban in south
2 police killed by Taliban rocket attack in S. Afghanistan

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-07-09 21:42

ISLAMABAD -- Local Taliban have taken 35 policemen hostage in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on Wednesday, local TV channel DAWN NEWS reported.

Some Taliban militants surrounded the Doaba police station in Hangu district of NWFP and demanded the release of some Taliban who were arrested by security personnel earlier, said the report.

The Station Head Office of Doaba police station has sought immediate help from paramilitary forces.Seven Taliban militants were arrested by security personnel in an operation earlier.

Security forces started to crack down on Taliban militants in Khyber Tribal Agency in late June. However, the government last week directed the army to suspend the operation so that tribal elders could resume peace talks with the militants.