Abducted Swiss couple released by Taliban in Pak

Olivier David Och, 31, and Daniela Widmer, 29, were safe and had been brought to Peshawar, the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, after being released in the tribal belt bordering Afghanistan, the officials told the media.

They were held in the lawless tribal region after being abducted in Loralai area of Balochistan on July 1 last year.

State-run Pakistan Radio reported that the couple were recovered from Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan tribal region.

The Pakistani Taliban had claimed responsibility for the abduction and demanded the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani scientist currently being held in the US after being convicted for the attempted murder of American personnel in Afghanistan.

It could not immediately be ascertained if any ransom was paid for the release of the Swiss couple.