MINGORA - Newly-posted District Coordination Officer (DCO) of Swat, Khushhal Khan was forcibly made a 'guest' by the local Taliban militants Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, the Army has warned that all options were still there if the peace initiative in Swat Valley derailed. The DCO, along with his six bodyguards, was abducted when his vehicle reached a Taliban-run checkpost in Qambar area near Mingora city. The official was asked by the masked and armed militants to disembark the vehicle. The news regarding his alleged abduction spread like a jungle fire. However, Tehrik-e-Taliban Swat chapter spokesman, Muslim Khan, rejected the news of abduction saying, "The officer is being treated like a guest." Deputy Inspector General Police Malakand Range Shaukat Hayat Khan, however, termed the incident act of 'kidnapping'. However, after a couple of hours' stay as forced guest of Taliban, the official was freed to resume his journey towards Mingora. It is pertinent to note here that Khushhal Khan replaced Shaukat Ali as District Coordination Officer of Swat. The young energetic Shaukat Ali had not only served Swat in critical times but he had also played a key role in the agreement reached recently with the banned Tehreek-i-Nifaz-i-Shariat-i-Muhammadi (TNSM). TV channels also reported that the Taliban released the DCO and his six bodyguards after two of their members were set free by the authorities. "We have released the official and his six guards in exchange of release of our two colleagues," Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan told AFP. "The government has released two (of) our men and soon they will release the third. The government violated the agreement by arresting our men in Peshawar and killing in Dir (district) that is why we had do this," Khan said. Officials said they could not confirm the claim by Khan, saying they had not yet heard from the kidnapped official. "I have received some information about the release of government official and his guards, but we have not heard form him yet," NWFP Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain told AFP. Initially, Taliban spokesman Khan kept saying that Taliban had not kidnapped the official but were demonstrating traditional local hospitality and serving tea to their guests. Iftikhar Hussain rubbished claims they were merely drinking tea and said that Taliban were holding them as hostages. "Such actions were detrimental for the peace in the region." Prime Minister Gilani also issued a brief statement, which was later withdrawn. Agencies add: Muslim Khan said the group claimed responsibility for abducting the administrator. "He is our guest. We have to discuss some issues with him. We will serve him with tea and then free him," he told reporters. Kushal Khan was nabbed a day after the NWFP government declared a permanent ceasefire agreement with Taliban in the valley. Local intelligence officials said that the newly appointed officer had taken the charge of his office in Mingora on Sunday and was touring the area. "There are lot of things which need to be settled after the agreement on Sharia and militants might have done this to send a message to administration not to venture deep into Taliban areas," one official told AFP. Meanwhile, pro-Taliban militants on Sunday said they would decide within days whether to call a permanent ceasefire. Meanwhile, Taliban said they would decide within days whether to call a permanent ceasefire in a region near the Afghan border after the government agreed to allow Sharia (Islamic law). Muslim Khan, spokesman for Maulana Fazlullah, said the Taliban would review their current 10-day truce in the Swat Valley when it runs out on Wednesday. "We declared a 10-day ceasefire just after the agreement was signed and you will see an exemplary peace prevail in the Valley once Sharia is enforced," Muslim Khan told AFP. "In the next five or six days, our shoora (consultative council) is meeting and it will decide about a permanent ceasefire," he said. Meanwhile, TNSM chief Sufi Muhammad on Sunday held a meeting with his close aides in Mingora to review the situation, his spokesman Ameer Izzat told AFP. "Maulana Sufi Muhammad today held a meeting with his advisers and discussed the situation Swat, restoration of peace and imposition of Sharia," Izzat told AFP. "The Maulana also took his advisors into confidence on the negotiations with Fazlullah," he added. The president of the private schools' association, Ziauddin Yousafzai, said all private schools would reopen Monday (today). Javed said some 100 schools destroyed or burnt by the Taliban would be rebuilt and that classes until then would be held in tents. Monitoring Desk adds: Army spokesman Maj-Gen Athar Abbas has said other options were open if political efforts aimed at establishing peace in Swat Valley would be unsuccessful, reported a private TV channel on Sunday. The spokesman said that establishing peace in Swat was first priority and every step would be taken in this regard. He said that Army was still present in the valley and all options were available for the government. He further said that modern equipment were required to ensure Army's success in the area, which would also enhance Army's capability and decrease human casualties.