 Families of the Korean hostages in Afghanistan hold signs reading ``Free Our Family’’ in front of the Iranian Embassy in Seoul, Wednesday. Cha Sung-min, a representative of the families, met with Iranian Ambassador Jahanbakhsh Mozaffari to ask for Iranian help to rescue the 21 hostages. / Korea Times |
By Yoon Won-sup with Emal Pashtunyar in Kabul
Staff Reporter
KABUL _ Taliban militants said Wednesday that they will not follow any order to release their 21 Korean hostages given by a tribal council meeting, dubbed ``jirga,'' slated for Aug. 9-11 in Kabul. The meeting is a decision-making procedure among tribal elders.
The Taliban spokesman Qari Yousaf Ahmadi said in an interview with The Korea Times that even if the meeting orders the release of the hostages, this would not affect any Taliban decision concerning them.
``The jirga meeting has nothing to do with us,'' Ahmadi said. ``We condemn that and their demand will not affect our decision,'' he added.
The meeting had appeared to offer hope to the hostages as negotiations have made little progress since their capture on July 19.
Delegates to the Pakistan-Afghanistan Peace Jirga will mainly discuss security, terrorism, and ways to stop the infiltration of Taliban militants from tribal areas in Pakistan into Afghanistan and vice versa. The hostage issue will be also on the agenda.
Usually, the meeting is held to find a solution to conflicts and it could produce a positive outcome for the release of the hostages, according to a source in Kabul.
``The Jirga may give instructions to the Taliban about their captives,'' the source said. ``But it's totally up to the militants whether they accept any instructions.''
Ahmadi indicated during the interview that the Taliban are averse to the jirga and do not want it to have any influence.
The militants have repeatedly demanded that the Afghan government set free its Taliban prisoners in return for the hostages, threatening to kill their captives. They have already killed two male hostages.
However, the Afghan government said again that it will not strike any clandestine deal with the Taliban for the release of the hostages.
``It is the government's policy not to enter into any deal with terrorists,'' Interior Ministry spokesman Zmaray Bashari told a news conference in Kabul.
As to the question of whether any military or police operation for setting free the captives was in place, Bashari said forces were ready to launch such a move. However, they were awaiting a signal from the government, he added.
Face-to-face negotiations between a Korean delegation and the Taliban have made no progress as they have yet to agree on a venue and an agenda. The spokesman said that talks are still underway between the two sides.
The Taliban want to hold the negotiations in an area they control _ otherwise the insurgents need U.N. security guarantees should the Koreans want talks to take place outside these areas.
Seoul sees a U.N. security guarantee as unviable and is considering mediation and security guarantees by international non-governmental organizations, which are well received in the Islamic world.
As the hostages passed their 21st day in captivity, 16 are sick, suffering from dehydration and intestinal disorders, and two females are seriously ill, according to Ahmadi.
However, Seoul officials have said there are no seriously sick hostages.
The remaining Korean captives are 18 women and three men, mostly in their 20s and 30s who went to Afghanistan on July 13 to offer volunteer services.
yoonwonsup@koreatimes.co.kr
![[INTERVIEW] Retired FSC chief finds inspiration exploring Koreans' ancestral roots](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/6642af4d9fed4cae8a8a951eedbbaa6f.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] 'The Flag': Kwon Jin-ah's love letter to people chasing their dreams](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/286500d853334c96ab51e56d74fe38f2.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
