Taliban: No plan to kill Chinese hostages
4 Sep 2008, 1515 Hrs

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Islamabad, Sept.4 (ANI): The Pakistani Taliban has said they would not kill the two Chinese engineers and two Pakistanis they have been holding since last week, but they would not release them unless their unspecified demands were met.

The four were kidnapped near the Afghan border last Friday as they were returning to a guesthouse after repairing a telecommunications tower.

A Taliban spokesman said the outfit is awaiting an approach from the government on the matter.

"There's no plan to kill them. If the government does not listen to us or contact us, then they'll remain detained," Xinhua quoted spokesman Muslim Khan, as saying.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday the government was seeking to clarify what happened. Militants have targeted Chinese nationals in Pakistan's northwest in the past.

Violence has surged in Pakistan, especially in the northwest, in recent weeks after militants suspended talks with a new civilian government in June and vowed attacks across the country. (ANI)