Korean negotiators in Afghanistan are reportedly persuading Taliban militants to first free the 18 women among 23 Korean hostages held since last week. A government official on Tuesday said the two sides are nearing an agreement on the first release of female hostages. He did not elaborate on the Taliban?s demands or timing of the release.
Agencies on Tuesday reported that Taliban commander Abdullah Jan, who claims to have led the abduction, was quoted as saying that he and his fellow militants gave the Afghan government a list of eight Taliban prisoners they want freed in exchange for the release of the same number of Korean hostages. Afghan government chief negotiator Waheedullah Mujadadi confirmed receipt of the prisoner list.

After another deadline expired at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, a purported spokesman for the Taliban, told AFP by phone, ?The negotiations continue. Right now they are in a very sensitive phase. We?ll talk later about the results rather than about the deadline which passed.? He added the militants are talking to the Korean ambassador to Afghanistan, who arrived in Ghanzi Province where the Korean abductees are presumed to be held, through Afghan tribal elders and religious leaders.

A spokesman for commander Jan said the problem was likely to be settled Tuesday night (Afghan time) and the group talked with Korean negotiators as well as Afghan government officials. He said pressure from the Korean government persuaded the Afghan government to accept the Taliban?s demand, the Afghanistan Islamic Press reported. Afghan chief negotiator Khalil Mohammad Husseini said militants promised not to kill the Korean hostages, according to Japan?s NHK.

However, the Korean government appeared wary, saying there was no evidence supporting such optimistic predictions. President Roh Moo-hyun said Tuesday this ?is not a time for Korea to come to such a hasty conclusion, be it optimistic or pessimistic,? on the results of the hostage negotiations.

The Taliban reportedly demanded money from the Korean government in return for contact with the hostages. Japan?s Kyodo News quoted Khowaja Ahmad Sedeqi, a member of an Afghan delegation mediating between the two sides, as saying the Islamist group demanded US$100,000 for a phone call between the Korean hostages and Korean negotiators.

Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department said it will closely work with the Korean and Afghan governments for the release of the Korean hostages.

source: koreantimes