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Taliban frees 2 journalists kidnapped in NW Pakistan

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-07-06 09:37

ISLAMABAD  -- Taliban Saturday freed two journalists held hostage in a tribal region in northwestern Pakistan, Taliban spokesman said.

Pir Zubair Shah, a part time employee of The New York Times and Akhtar Somroo, photographer for the newspaper, were taken Friday by Taliban in Mohmand Agency.

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The private NNI news agency quoted Taliban spokesman in the region Asad as saying that the journalists had been freed after preliminary questioning.

He said that the journalists from other areas must inform Taliban before entering the area but the two journalists did not inform about their arrival.

The Pakistan-based correspondent of the New York Times said that the kidnapped local journalists were part timers and not permanent employees.

Pakistan's tribal regions are considered to be dangerous for journalists. A TV journalist was shot dead by unidentified men in Bajaur last month.

Local Taliban asked four journalists in a tribal region bordering Afghanistan last week to quit the profession otherwise they would be killed.