GHAZNI, Afghanistan - The Taliban will hold a new round of face-to-face talks Thursday with South Korean officials over 19 church volunteers still held hostage, a spokesman for the militant group said.
Map locating the Tora Bora mountains in Afghanistan, where US and Afghan troops were pressing an assault against Al-Qaeda and Taliban positions.[AFP] |
Three South Korean delegates arrived Thursday morning at the office of the Afghan Red Crescent, where previous negotiations with the Taliban have been held. International Red Cross officials were at hand to facilitate the talks, said Franz Rauchenstein, an official with the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The militants will demand the release of eight Taliban prisoners held by Afghan authorities before any of the remaining South Korean hostages can be freed, said Qari Yousef Ahmadi, who claims to speak for the Taliban. Afghan authorities have so far rejected any prisoner exchange, saying it would encourage more kidnappings.
The Taliban freed two women Monday following two rounds of face-to-face talks, calling it a gesture of goodwill. The kidnappers have killed two hostages - both men - since the original group of 23 South Koreans were seized July 19 while traveling by bus from Kabul to Kandahar.
Ahmadi said the kidnappers will not harm the 14 women and five men still captive while talks are ongoing. He said the Taliban want South Korean officials to pressure the Afghan government to free the imprisoned militants.
The Afghan government was heavily criticized in March for freeing five Taliban prisoners to win the release of an Italian journalist and has ruled out any more such deals.
South Korean officials have called for the unconditional release of the rest of the hostages, while also calling on Afghan authorities to show flexibility.
