The militants demand the return of four captured comrades. So far the Pakistani government has held firm. By Pir Zubair Shah and Jane Perlez The New York Times PESHAWAR, Pakistan — The Pakistani Taliban have taken dozens of local officials hostage, including police officers, paramilitary fighters and even state bank officials, and threatened Friday to begin executing them unless the government releases four of their comrades captured last week. The standoff has grown into one of the most serious recent challenges to the government's resolve to curb the militants' rapid expansion. The threat comes just 10 days before Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani is scheduled to meet President Bush at the White House. So far, the government has held firm, sending hundreds of soldiers to the area, Hangu, in North-West Frontier Province, to...
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