Suspected Islamic militants decapitated one of 16 paramilitary soldiers kidnapped last week in northwestern Pakistan, and threatened to kill more captives if authorities do not release rebel prisoners, officials said Tuesday. The body of Laiq Hussain was found Tuesday in a soccer field near a military base in Jandola, a town in the South Waziristan tribal region where al-Qaida- and Taliban-linked militants operate, said Latifur Rehman, a security officer in the area. | Happy Independence Day, Pakistan! |
Hussain was among 16 troops who were abducted on Friday near Jandola as they traveled home on vacation. An intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to make media comments, said a faction of militants in South Waziristan led by Qari Hussain was holding the soldiers and demanding the release of 10 of his supporters who are in government custody. |