Taleban Expected to Release Seven Remaining Korean Hostages

Aug 29, 10:30 PM

Current Headlines: Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap

Seoul, 30 August (Yonhap): The Taleban is expected to release seven remaining South Korean hostages in Afghanistan Thursday [30 August] under a pledge it made a couple of days ago in face-to-face negotiations with South Korean officials to end the six-week hostage crisis.

The militant group freed 12 South Koreans Wednesday in three groups.

The militants kidnapped 23 Koreans on 19 July in Ghazni as the Koreans were on their way to Kandahar for aid work. Later, two male hostages were executed, while two women were released in a goodwill gesture as negotiations were underway between the Taleban and South Korean officials.

The negotiations gave heightened political stature to the Islamic fundamentalist group as a seemingly legitimate dialogue partner with a foreign government.

South Korea engaged in direct talks with the insurgent group despite opposition from the US and Kabul governments, which have been staging an anti-terrorism war against the Taleban that is accused of having connections with Al-Qa'idah, seen as the force behind the 11 September attacks on the US

Wednesday's release came a day after the Taleban announced it would free all the hostages in return for South Korea's pledge to withdraw its troops by year's end and prevent South Korean Christian missionaries from working in Afghanistan. The Taleban said the remaining hostages - three men and four women - would likely be freed on Thursday, according to media reports.

The released hostages were resting in a US army base near Ghazni. Officials here said it would take two more days before the hostages arrive in Seoul as they were held in different areas. They are expected to move to north of Kabul where the South Korean troops are stationed, for a medical checkup early Thursday and then fly to Dubai or New Delhi to take a South Korea-bound flight after the remaining seven hostages are released.

Originally published by Yonhap news agency, Seoul, in English 0143 30 Aug 07.

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