April 03, 2008	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 25, 1429

WANA, April 2: Security forces on Wednesday re-opened the Jandola-Wana road for three days to allow the displaced people to return to their homes in South Waziristan.

Troops had blocked the highway in January during an operation against militants of the Mehsud tribe.

The Jandola-Makeen road, however, will remain closed.

An official said the displaced families would travel in convoys from Dera Ismail Khan and Tank after getting permission from the political administration.

Officials said that about 10,000 displaced Mehsud families had been registered.

Former MNA Maulana Mirajuddin said the Jandola -Makeen road would be re-opened soon.

The three-month-long blockade had brought life to a standstill in the Mehsud area.

Meanwhile, Raees Khan, a close aide of militant commander Baitullah Mehsud, is reported to have been quietly released. Police had arrested him in Dera Ismail Khan about six months ago and taken him to Peshawar for interrogation. Sources said that backdoor negotiations between the government and militants had paved way for his release.

They said the Taliban had kidnapped 20 paramilitary troops to bargain for release of Raees Khan and four others.