By Emal Pashtunyar
Special to Korea Times
KABUL - The kidnapping saga of the Korean hostages is expected to end in a day or two as Taliban militants holding them have freed 12 hostages as of Wednesday _ a result of successful face-to-face talks between Korean officials and the kidnappers, Tuesday.
As the nearly one and a half months ordeal of the hostages is about to come to an end, The Korea Times has prepared a chronology of the events since the day of kidnapping up to the release of the 12.
July 19:
A passenger bus carrying 23 South Korean Church volunteers on the way from Kandahr Province to Kabul was intercepted in the Qarabagh district of Ghazni Province by Taliban militants. The Koreans were kidnapped the militants who released their driver.
July 21:
A statement from the Korean Foreign Ministry was reported in Afghanistan in which the ministry said that it would withdraw its 210 troops from the Central Asian nation by the end of the current year.
Speaking to reporters, Foreign Minister Song Min-soon said the government was planning to pullout its troops from Afghanistan by the end of the year as scheduled.
July 22:
A 10-member delegation comprising members of the Afghanistan Wolesi Jirga or Lower House of the Afghan Parliament’s provincial council, tribal elders and religious scholars reached Ghazni to discuss the release of the hostages with the Taliban. The arrival of the delegation prompted the militants to extend their deadline on the fate of the Korean nationals for 24 hours.
The same day, the Taliban warned the government and foreign troops against any military operation to release the hostages. Also, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon telephoned President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and discussed the hostage issue with him.
July 23:
The Taliban extended the deadline for the release or killing of the hostages for another 24 hours. Spokesman Qari Yousaf Ahmadi said the deadline had been extended in order to hold direct talks with Korean officials. Taliban commander Abdullah Jan suspected the government's sincerity and asked the Korean side for direct talks to resolve the issue.
The U.N. mission to Afghanistan, in a statement, expressed concern over the increasing incidence of kidnappings of foreigners in the country and asked the government to adopt proper security measures. Spokesman Edrian Edwards said the Koreans' abduction was the largest in the recent history of Afghanistan.
July 24:
Korean Ambassador to Afghanistan Kang Sung-zu arrived in Ghazni to hold direct talks with the Taliban for the release of the hostages.
The same day, dozens of citizens staged a rally in Ghazni asking the Taliban to ensure the safety of the kidnap victims.
July 25:
The militants shot dead one of their male hostages after accusing the Afghan government and the Korean delegation of not entertaining their demand regarding the release of Taliban prisoners. The militia's spokesman warned more captives would be killed if the deadlock in negotiations continued.
The same day, the Korean foreign minister talked on the telephone to his Pakistani counterpart who expressed concern over the kidnapping and killing of the Koreans.
July 26:
A top Taliban commander in Ghazni province said their leadership had formed a three-member commission to decide the fate of the Korean hostages. He accused the Afghan government of creating obstacles to finalizing a deal.
Ghazni Governor Merajuddin Patan, in a press statement, said the government was ready for a swap deal with the Taliban to ensure the safe release of the hostages.
The same day, a female hostage made an impassioned appeal to Seoul, the United Nations and human rights watchdogs to step up efforts to secure the release of the remaining 22 hostages.
July 27:
The Taliban once again extended their deadline on the fate of the hostages.
July 28:
In the face of rumors about military action by the Afghan government and a warning by the Taliban against this, the Ghazni governor ruled out the use of force to release the hostages.
The Afghan government dispatched a new delegation to the Qarabagh district for talks with Taliban kidnappers on the release of the remaining hostages.
July 29:
Baek Jong-chun, a representative of the South Korean president called on Afghan President Hamid Karzai to discuss the hostage issue. Karzai assured him that his government would spare no effort in securing the safe release of the South Korean nationals.
July 30:
A second South Korean hostage was shot dead after a ``final deadline’’ set by the militants expired. With the killing, the militants ruled out the unconditional release of the hostages.
July 31:
The body of the slain Korean captive, Shim Sung-min, was found in the Andar district of Ghazni.
Aug. 1:
The Taliban warned they would kill four more South Koreans if their demands continued to be ignored.
The same day, the Korean president’s envoy voiced his opposition to military action to release the hostages. The Taliban also announced that some of the female hostages were seriously ill.
Aug. 2:
The head of the Afghan government-appointed negotiating team pulled out of talks with the Taliban as there had been no breakthrough for several days.
The same day, local doctors offered to treat the sick hostages and provide them with medicine. However, the Taliban turned down their offer.
Aug. 3-9:
A grand tribal Jirga was held in Kabul where several of its leaders condemned the Taliban for kidnapping women.
Aug. 10:
Taliban negotiators and Korean officials came together for their first face-to-face contact.
Aug. 11:
The Taliban held their first news conference in Ghazni since their overthrow in 2001. Taliban spokesman Yousaf Ahmadi wrongly informed the media about the release of two female hostages.
Aug. 12:
The Taliban said the release of two women hostages, approved by their leadership council a day earlier, had been delayed until Aug. 13.
Aug. 13:
After a three-day delay, the Taliban free two female hostages who were earlier reported to be seriously ill. An Afghan elder escorted the two women to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Ghazni.
Aug. 14:
Face-to-face negotiations between the Taliban and Korean delegation are postponed for an indefinite period. The Taliban said the talks were suspended due to consultations necessary for both sides.
Aug. 15:
The Taliban announced the resumption of face-to-face talks on August 16.
Aug. 16:
The Korean delegation again met with Taliban negotiators at the ICRC office to discuss the safe release of the remaining 19 hostages.
Aug. 20:
Negotiations, which had been suspended earlier, resumed through an intermediary. Talks were held between Haji Zahir, a mediator for the Korean side, and representatives of the Taliban.
Aug. 21:
The Afghan government once again rejected a prisoner swap with the Taliban. Presidential spokesman Humayun Hamidzada made the announcement during a news conference.
Aug. 22-27:
The two sides continued behind the scenes contacts with the help of local as well as foreign intermediaries and paved the way for an agreement.
Aug. 28:
The two sides met at the office of the ICRC in Ghazni in the morning. They announced a three-point agreement on the release of the hostages in the afternoon.
Aug. 29:
Twelve hostages, ten women and two man, were released in three batches of three, five and four, and handed over to ICRC officials.
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