Lieutenant Colonel Khalid Amir Khan and his two brothers, one a NADRA employee and an Assistant Commissioner, were abducted two days ago in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dera Ismail Khan.
The abductors, identified as the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Gandapur group, are demanding the release of 20 of their associates and ransom in exchange for the hostages.
The kidnapping incident took place on Wednesday evening while the brothers were at home following their parents’ burial and prayer recitations. The government is actively working to secure the hostages’ release, compiling information on the prisoners the TTP has demanded.
Civil and security agencies are negotiating with the kidnappers, with ongoing consultations among officials in Islamabad, Dera Ismail Khan, and Peshawar. Lieutenant Colonel Khalid Amir and his brother Asif Amir have made video appeals for the government to fulfil the Taliban’s demands for their release.
The abductors’ list includes notable TTP members like Malik Mahmood from Swat, Muslim Khan, Latif Mehsud from South Waziristan, and Maulvi Umar from Bajaur. Muslim Khan, a former TTP spokesperson, and other mentioned individuals were previously detained in various military operations.
A key TTP leader confirmed to Voice of America the demand for these 20 members’ release, while a government official noted that negotiations are ongoing to ensure the hostages’ safe return.
