By Emal Pashtunyar
Special to Korea Times
KABUL---Many questions emerge as the deadlock over the release of the 22 kidnapped South Koreans - one of them died in captivity or killed by the militants - entered into eighth day on Thursday.
The 23 Korean citizens, 15 of them women (some reports suggest 18), were whisked away by armed militants in Qarabagh district of Ghazni province on July 19. Since then, hectic efforts are underway by the Afghan government, the Korean mission in Afghanistan and the local elders and parliamentarians, but to no avail.
The main issue that stalled the talks, which was once announced both by the Taliban and the Afghan officials as successful and hoped they would reach an agreement soon, is the release of Taliban militants from Afghan jails.
Although huge ransom is also an option with the kidnappers, their prime and insisting demand is the release of the prisoners in exchange for the safe release of the hostages.
While the Afghan government is determined they would not agree to the swap of prisoners, the militants are also adamant to free the innocent Korean citizens who are sandwiched between two sides.
Why the stalemate:
It is the release of the Taliban prisoners that is pushing the issue toward a deadlock which has so far claimed the life of one innocent Korean national. (Insiders said the hostage was seriously ill and he died of the illness. Later, the kidnappers fired shots on the dead body to put pressure on the Korean team and the Afghan government to accept their demands.)
By harping on the release of the prisoners, the Taliban, who are fighting a guerilla war against the Afghan government and the foreign troops since their overthrow in 2001, want to show to the world that:
(1) The incumbent Afghan government is weak and does not have the power to safeguard its own nationals and the foreigners.
(2) To discredit the government in the eyes of the international community, which is pouring in funds to rebuild the war-battered country to restore the rule of law.
(3) To prove that Taliban are strong enough to challenge the writ of the government anywhere and in any way.
(4) The release of Taliban prisoners from Afghan jails will further boost the morale of the fighters and will influence more young men to join the Taliban.
On the other hand, the Afghan government also has stakes in not agreeing to the demands of the kidnappers, because:
(1) Release of the Taliban fighters would subject the government to criticism both on the national as well as international level.
(2) Any release will prove a negation of the earlier announcement made by Afghan President Hamid Karzai that there will be no prisoner swap with the Taliban in future. The announcement was made after five high-profile Taliban prisoners were set free from an Afghan jail in exchange for the safe release of Italian journalist Danielle Mastrogiacomo a few months back.
(3) The Afghan government was rebuked and subjected to criticism by its international backers, including its main ally the United States for the deal. There was also a reaction on the national level and people criticized the government for succumbing to unjust demands by the insurgents.
(4) Any release will lower the morale of the fledgling Afghan army, Afghan police as well as the step will draw a stern reaction from the NATO and coalition forces, who are fighting the militants to restore peace to the Central Asian country.
It is those objections and reservations that the Korean hostages are still languishing in the Taliban captivity. It is a pity that the innocent Koreans are being sandwiched in the war between the Afghan government and its opponents, the Taliban.