Taliban on Wednesday abducted and released 30 Pakistani security personnel in Swat Valley after the hostages promised to quit their jobs in exchange for freedom. Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan said the abducted personnel were freed after they gave a written undertaking that they would quit their jobs. There was no official word on the latest development. Shahnawaz,one of the kidnapped Frontier Corps men,said the security personnel had given a written undertaking that they would quit their jobs. He said they would soon formally resign. The bold abduction was carried out on Tuesday night when the army and paramilitary forces had suspended operations to break the siege of two police stations laid by Taliban militants in Shamzoi area and rescue the trapped security personnel,local police officials and TV channels reported. Pakistani authorities on Wednesday announced a reward of US $12,610 for information leading to the rescue of a kidnapped UN American official,police said. John Solecki,head of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in the city of Quetta was abducted at gunpoint and his driver killed on Monday. Anyone who provides information to police leading to safe recovery of John Solecki will be awarded Rs 1 million and his name will be kept secret, the head of the police investigation Wazir Khan Nasir said. Those who help police will be provided full protection, he said. Meanwhile,international NGO Medecins Sans Frontieres has completely suspended its activities in Swat after two of its staff were killed in fighting in the restive valley in northwestern Pakistan. The two MSF staff members Riaz Ahmad,24,and Nasar Ali,27 were killed on Sunday while trying to collect people injured in fighting in Charbagh sub-district,considered a stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban. A third volunteer worker for MSF was injured in the incident,the organisation said in a statement.
