PARACHINAR: The 10 school children who were abducted earlier today in the northwestern tribal region of Kurram were freed on Saturday after a local jirga negotiated with militants for their release, DawnNews reported.

The children were abducted in lower Kurram's Baggan area and had been shifted to an unknown location by the kidnappers.

They were released after negotiations were held between the jirga and insurgents.

Over 60 people have been kidnapped in the area during the past few days.

Kurram is located near the Afghan border. Many Taliban militants escaping a Pakistan army operation in the nearby Orakzai tribal region are believed to have fled there.