By Emal Pashtunyar
Special to Korea Times
KABUL _ Without identifying her, Taliban militants said, Wednesday, one of the hostages they were going to set free due to her ill health opted to stay in captivity for the sake of another colleague whose condition was worse.
A spokesman for commander Abdullah Jan, was unable to name the brave woman who made the heroic sacrifice for the sake of her colleague.
``Their names are very difficult to remember,'' said the spokesman who introduced himself as Masoom. This reporter failed to establish contact with Abdullah as he seldom talks to the media and prefers to interact with the media usually through Masoom.
Masoom said the Korean media should talk to the two freed woman and they would tell them her name. ``We can't even speak those difficult names,'' said the spokesman when again asked to try to recall it.
``All names are alike with the difference of a few characters,'' he said. This is why we can't remember them.
Two women hostages were freed Monday afternoon as a result of face-to-face talks between a two-member Taliban delegation and Korean officials.
Earlier, the Taliban had said that the women's health had seriously deteriorated and they needed immediate treatment. However, the two were apparently in good health _ after a medical check-up, doctors in Kabul said their condition was okay.
Meanwhile, Taliban spokesman Qari Yousaf Ahmadi told the Korea Times that although negotiations had been suspended, telephone contact was still in place.
Asked about the name of the Korean hostage who made the sacrifice, the spokesman said he did not know because he had not met any of them. The commander or his spokesman did because they were holding the hostages, said Ahmadi.
Regarding the health of the woman, he said all were in good condition and were well looked after by their captors. The Korean media should ask the two about their treatment, said the spokesman.
Ahmadi noted that the two sides would soon restart face-to-face talks and that nothing (bad) would be done to the hostages.