ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani Taleban have asked the government to release from jail 300 people they say are non-combatants, as part of an ongoing peace process aimed at ending the militants’ seven-year insurgency.

A list handed over by the Tehreek-e-Taleban Pakistan (TTP) includes women, children and old men, a negotiator for the group told AFP on Tuesday, saying their release would boost the dialogue process that began in February.

“The Taleban gave us a list of around 300 detainees during our recent visit to North Waziristan, which we have handed over to Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan,” professor Muhammad Ibrahim told AFP.

“The interior minister assured us he would look into the list and thoroughly investigate the matter.”

A spokesman for the Interior Ministry could not be immediately reached for comment on whether Pakistan is holding the non-combatants.

The government opened negotiations with the TTP last month in a bid to end their bloody seven-year insurgency.

The process broke down for more than two weeks after militants killed 23 kidnapped soldiers, but later resumed after the Taleban announced a month-long cease-fire.

In an effort to take the talks to a higher level, the government last week formed a new four-member committee to begin direct contact with the Taleban.

Ibrahim said the venue for the next round was still under discussion.

British woman jailed for drug-smuggling

A court in Pakistan on Tuesday jailed a British mother-of-three for life for attempting to smuggle 63 kilograms (139 pounds) of heroin out of the country.

Khadija Shah, who is from the central city of Birmingham and of Pakistani descent, was arrested at Islamabad airport in May 2012 when the drugs were found in her luggage.

She was convicted and sentenced at a special narcotics court in Rawalpindi, the twin city of Islamabad, according to legal papers seen by AFP. She was also fined 300,000 rupees ($3,000)

Shah, 26, who was six months pregnant when she was arrested, denied the allegations. She gave birth to a daughter last September while in custody on the drugs charges.

Her lawyer Shehzad Akbar said she had no idea there were drugs in her luggage and they would appeal.

Legal charity Reprieve urged the British government to help.