Taliban frees two South Korean captives

TWO women among the 23 South Koreans kidnapped by the Taliban in mid-July were freed yesterday on a rural Afghan roadside and then driven to a US base, the first significant breakthrough in a hostage drama that is more than three weeks old.

The two women, who broke into tears after seeing the international Red Cross officials there to take custody of them, got out of a dark-grey Toyota Corolla driven by an Afghan elder and into one of two waiting Red Cross SUVs.

The women said nothing to reporters alerted to the hand-off location 8km south-east of Ghazni city by a Taliban spokesman.

Wearing scarves on their heads, khaki trousers and traditional Afghan knee-length shirts, the women were driven to the US base in Ghazni city, where American soldiers searched them and let them enter.

They were brought to the arranged meeting point in rural Ghazni province by an Afghan named Haji Zahir, who got into the Red Cross vehicle with them.

The Taliban decided to release the pair “for the sake of good relations between the Korean people and the Taliban”, said Qari Yousef Ahmadi, who claims to speak for the insurgent group.

“We are expecting the Korean people and government to force the Kabul administration and the U.S. to take a step toward releasing Taliban prisoners.”

Ghazni governor, Marajudin Pathan, ruled out a Taliban prisoner swap.

“Our position is the same —, we are not releasing (any Taliban prisoners),” Mr Pathan told reporters.

The South Korean foreign ministry identified the freed hostages as Kim Kyung-ja and Kim Ji-na.

Previous media reports said they were 37 and 32 years old, respectively.

Two male captives were executed by gunfire in late July. Fourteen women and five men are still being held.

The Taliban have been demanding the release of 21 militant prisoners being held in jails by the Afghan government and U.S. military at the base at Bagram.

The government has said it won’t release any prisoners out of fear that kidnapping could become an industry in Afghanistan.

The South Korean government confirmed the release of the two hostages, and said they were under protection in a safe location. Seoul called for the other captives to be freed too.

“We urge the kidnappers to release our people and we will make efforts for the safety and release of South Koreans,” said foreign ministry spokesman, Cho Hee-yong.