By Yoon Won-sup
Staff Reporter
KABUL _ The Taliban said Tuesday that they were ready to free eight out of 23 Korean hostages held in Afghanistan in exchange for eight jailed Taliban militants, but the Seoul government denied the report.
``We've handed the Afghan government delegation a list of eight Taliban prisoners to be freed, for whom we'll free eight hostages,'' Taliban commander holding the hostages, named Abdullah, was quoted as saying by AFP.
Abdul Waheed Mujadadi, a tribal elder representing the government in the talks with the Taliban, confirmed that the Taliban had sent him the list. More hostages will be freed for more prisoners later, he added.
The information came after the Korean government first made direct negotiation with the Taliban through Korean Ambassador to Afghanistan Kang Sung-zu, according to sources here.
Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi repeated the insurgents' demand that the Afghan government release the same number of Taliban prisoners in return for the release of the Korean abductees.
The direct negotiation was reported on solid track.
``It is possible to see the negotiation peacefully concluded by today (Tuesday),'' Ahmadi was quoted as saying by NHK.
The rosy prospect was echoed in the Korean government too, as presidential spokesman Cheon Ho-seon said he expected the negotiation to continue after the deadline.
The direct talks started after the Taliban telephoned the Korean Embassy here and informed embassy officials about their decision that they didn't want more discussion with the Afghan officials, sources said.
However, one of the 23 Koreans is sick and the Taliban tried to give medicine for the one, AIP reported.
Meanwhile, thousands of Afghan people in Ghazni province where the Koreans are held hostage also called for release of the Koreans.
An official in Seoul said the Taliban demand ransom, probably millions of dollar, for the hostages but declined to specify the amount, MBC reported.
An Afghan negotiator said the Taliban demanded that the Korean government pay $100,000 for a direct phone call with the Koreans and pay the same amount of money for a photo of them.
However, Ahmadi denied the claim, saying that what Taliban want is the swap of their militants in prison and the hostages.
The issue narrowed down to whether the swapping deal would be realized.
Abdul Khaliq, Afghan deputy interior minister, indicated that his country will not accept the Taliban's demand, saying that Afghanistan was not prepared to make a deal ``against national interest and constitution.''
It would be a big challenge for Afghanistan to release the Taliban prisoners as the United States and most Western countries oppose the idea. The United States urged the Taliban to immediately release the innocent Korean hostages without condition.
When the Afghan government swapped five Taliban prisoners for an Italian reporter taken hostage by Taliban in March, it received strong criticism from the United States. The acceptance of militants' demands will encourage more kidnapping, the United States said.
Afghan President Hamid Karai also promised that kind of trade would not happen again.
Meanwhile, officials in Seoul didn't confirm any demands from the Taliban for fear that any confirmation may negatively influence ongoing negotiations. They stressed a cautious approach to the issue considering its sensitivity.
President Roh Moo-hyun also asked the nation to stay calm as it anxiously awaits the outcome of the multilateral efforts to free the hostages.
``It's neither a time to be overoptimistic nor prematurely pessimistic about the outcome,'' Roh said at a Cabinet meeting. ``It's important to resolve this with a calm and cool-headed attitude.''
A Korean team led by Vice Foreign Minister Cho Jung-pyo, which arrived in Afghanistan Sunday, also continued their efforts to return the hostages. Former Korean Ambassador to Uzbekistan Moon Ha-young also joined the Afghan government's countermeasures meeting to get involved in the negotiation.
The Korean hostages _ 18 women and five men, mostly doctors and nurses in their 20s and 30s _ went to Afghanistan to offer volunteer medical services. Most of them are members of the Saemmul Community Church in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province.
In the meantime, the Taliban canceled its claim that they killed two Germans who were kidnapped with the Koreans. Ahmadi said that one is dead and the other is alive but very ill.
Ahmadi said the Taliban killed the German because Germany didn't respond to its demand to pull out German troops stationed in Afghanistan.