Taliban members released their last four Turkish hostages on Tuesday afternoon as a means of promoting good relations with other Muslims.
It’s a “goodwill” action, said Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahed, in The Associated Press report.
Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed the men were released, AP said.
Taliban militants had taken hostage eight Turks on April 21, after the helicopter in which they were flying was forced to make an emergency landing, due to poor weather. Also taken hostage were the two pilots and the Afghan translator who were on board.
Last Sunday, four of the Turks were released.
The fate of the translator and two pilots — one from Kyrgyzstan, one from Russia — are still not clear, AP said.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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