Two Journalists Kidnapped by Terrorists in Talistan

Terrorists kidnapped a free lance writer and a photographer for alledgely secretly taking pictures. Let's hope the terrorists don't decide to chop off their heads. Reuters

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - Al Qaeda-linked militants have abducted two Pakistani journalists who the militants accused of snooping on their members and positions near the Afghan border.

The militants detained freelance reporter Pir Zubair Shah and photographer Akhtar Soomro in Ziarat village in the Mohmand region late on Thursday.

"We detained them because they were secretly taking pictures of our people and places. Now, our council will meet and decide what to do," Asad, a spokesman for Pakistani Taliban, said by telephone on Friday.

....

Pakistani Taliban militants linked to al Qaeda have taken control of swathes of territory in northwestern Pakistan's ethnic Pashtun regions along the Afghan border, including parts of Mohmand.

Intermediaries were trying to get the reporters released, said a senior government officer.

"We're doing our best. We've sent a delegation of tribal elders to the kidnappers to get them released," said the official, who declined to be identified.