Taliban fighters take officials, security men hostage

At that time, 35 policemen were inside the police station. Following talks with the local administration, the Taliban ended their siege of the police station.

However, they took 14 people a senior telecom official, five policemen and eight low-ranking army personnel hostage before leaving the area, Dawn News channel reported on Thursday.

The Taliban in Doaba are also holding seven officials of the water management board and a military intelligence official. The officials of the water management board were taken hostage in the last week of June.

The local administration has initiated steps to resolve the hostage issue peacefully.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Army has sent a battalion to the Doaba area following a request from the NWFP government.

The troops started patrolling the area and artillery has also been deployed.

However, the Taliban have threatened people in the area to keep their businesses shut and remain indoors, TV channels reported.