Afghan Taliban free four Turkish engineers

GHAZNI: Four Turkish engineers kidnapped by Afghanistan's Taliban more than eight months ago were freed overnight after intervention by tribal elders.

The men, taken captive in December in eastern Paktia province, were handed to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the neighbouring province of Ghazni, an AFP reporter in the area said.

"We were kidnapped by the Taliban eight-and-a-half months ago. We're released on the occasion of Eid by Ameer-ul Momineen Mullah Mohammad Omar," one of the captives told AFP, referring to the Taliban leader.

The Turk, who gave his name only as Imam, said no ransom was paid and "we were not tortured" while in captivity, before being rushed to Ghazni city.

Authorities refused to give details but Haji Zahir, a Ghazni province tribal elder who facilitated the release, told AFP that the Taliban freed the four "only on the occasion of Eid."

Eid al-Fitr is a major Muslim festival which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. The release of prisoners at this time is an Afghan tradition.

"Yes, we freed the four Turkish engineers on the occasion of Eid," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed told AFP.

Turkey has hundreds of troops operating under the US-led NATO force in Afghanistan, in a deadly decade-long conflict.

Kidnapping of foreign nationals is part of the Taliban insurgency. The rebels often seek the release of their jailed comrades from Afghan prisons before freeing hostages.

Most the hostages are, however, released only after a ransom is paid.

Two French reporters were abducted by Taliban in Kapisa province, north of Kabul, in December 2009 and freed in July. One of the two, Herve Ghesquiere, recently told the BBC that he suspected a ransom was paid for his freedom.

The Taliban said the pair were freed after their comrades were released from jail, a claim dismissed by Afghan authorities.

Two German nationals are also believed to have been kidnapped by the Taliban after they went missing while climbing Hindu Kush mountains, north of Kabul, earlier this month. (AFP)