100 Pakistani Soldiers Kidnapped

By Associated Press August 31, 2007 

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Islamic militants ambushed a large convoy of
military vehicles in troubled northwestern Pakistan yesterday, kidnapping
more than 100 soldiers after seizing their weapons, officials said.

The soldiers were traveling in 16 trucks and providing security for
trucks carrying food between Wana, the main town in South Waziristan,
and Ladha, another town in the region, two intelligence officials said
on condition of anonymity because of agency policy.

One of the officials said nearly 100 soldiers were kidnapped, while the
other said there were between 100 and 120 soldiers taken. There was no
indication if there was a battle or if anyone was wounded in the incident,
they said.

"We confirm that several military vehicles were ambushed, and scores of
our soldiers are missing, but we have no further details," said an army
official based near the capital, Islamabad, who spoke on condition of
anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the issue.

The reports could not be independently confirmed because the region is
remote and dangerous. A senior intelligence official in South Waziristan
said about 100 soldiers were leaving Wana by road when hundreds of
militants attacked them.

"Efforts are under way to trace and rescue the missing soldiers," he said.