PESHAWAR, Pakistan -- A group of utility workers held by the Taliban for 16 months has been freed.
The 12 employees of Pakistan's Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) were working on an electricity transmission tower on the outskirts of Peshawar in January 2012 when they were kidnapped.
The Taliban demanded a large ransom for their release.
RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal spoke with family members during their time in captivity who said they were unable to pay.
Radio Mashaal spoke with two of the freed workers on May 8 who said they faced hard times while they were being held but would not go into detail about their treatment.
The captives were released on May 7.
They acknowledged a ransom had been paid to secure their freedom but would not say who paid it and how much it was.
The 12 employees of Pakistan's Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) were working on an electricity transmission tower on the outskirts of Peshawar in January 2012 when they were kidnapped.
The Taliban demanded a large ransom for their release.
RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal spoke with family members during their time in captivity who said they were unable to pay.
Radio Mashaal spoke with two of the freed workers on May 8 who said they faced hard times while they were being held but would not go into detail about their treatment.
The captives were released on May 7.
They acknowledged a ransom had been paid to secure their freedom but would not say who paid it and how much it was.
