Two Sikhs rescued from Taliban in Pak's Khyber Agency - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Two Sikh men, who were kidnapped by Taliban from Pakistan's Khyber Agency a month ago, have been rescued in an operation by Pakistani security forces, according to a military spokesman. The spokesman of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major General Athar Abbas, was quoted as saying that the operation was conducted on the basis of a tip-off from intelligence sources. "The two abducted Sikhs, Surjeet Singh and Gurvinder Singh, are safe," the spokesman said. Surjeet Singh and Gurvinder Singh were kidnapped along with another Sikh named Jaspal Singh over a month ago in the Khyber Agency. The beheaded body of Jaspal Singh was found on February 21, while the body of another Sikh, Mahal Singh, was found on the same day in Aurakzai Agency. The spokesperson added that many militants have also been killed in the operation. A sizeable number of Sikhs lived in the tribal belt, particularly Orakzai Agency, till the Taliban imposed 'jaziya' or religious tax on them last year. Most members of the community then fled to cities across Pakistan.