By Zahiruddin

CHITRAL, Jan 11, 2010: A Kalash delegation has returned from the neighbouring Nooristan province of Afghanistan after its failure to release a Greek, Athunsius Lerounis, who was kidnapped by the Taliban last year.

Sources said that the delegation, led by former nazim of union council Ayun Abdul Majeed, stayed for eight days in Nooristan and held meetings with Governor Mulla Dost Mohammad and Taliban commander Haji Usman Muttaqi. This was the fifth visit of the delegation, which failed.

The Taliban leadership reportedly reiterated their demand, seeking release of three of their commanders from the captivity in Pakistan in lieu of release of the Greek national.

Earlier, they had dropped their demand of $2 million as ransoms which also formed one of the two conditions for the Greek volunteer who had been kidnapped from the valley in September last. The delegation was said to have conveyed result of their meeting with the Taliban leadership in Nooristan.--Dawn