According to a Pakistan newspaper reports Monday, two Taliban leaders being held in Afghanistan on terrorism charges were let go in return for the safe release of Canadian Broadcasting Corp (CBC) reporter Mellissa Fung, who was freed on Saturday.

Though the CBC says Fung’s kidnappers were likely criminals rather than members of the Taliban. Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper quoted Taliban sources on Monday as saying a violent tug-of-war for Fung erupted between insurgents and the criminals after she was taken hostage.

Canada’s Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, denied the reports, and said: “There have been continued reports about ransoms being paid. That was not done in this case.” He added: “There has been no release or exchange of political prisoners. This matter is being handled according to the laws of the government of Canada and the government of Afghanistan.”

Even Afghanistan’s embassy in Ottawa denied the report, saying Fung was freed “after four weeks of intensive efforts which culminated in a raid by Afghan forces” on the compound where she was being held captive.

In a statement, the embassy said: “The Afghan government has not closed the case yet, as Afghan security institutions continue to pursue the kidnappers in order to determine the identity of the main culprits and the motivations behind it.”