KABUL _ The Korean delegation and the Taliban militants resumed negotiations Saturday over the release of the 21 South Korean hostages, a purported Taliban spokesman said.
Qari Yousaf Ahmadi said that the two sides have resumed talks today after a break of several hours. The initial negotiations continued for several hours, he added.
Asked what was main agenda items in face to face deal, Ahmadi said that their demand at the first contact was a swap between eight Taliban prisoners with the same number of South Korean hostages. The Korean delegation would propose a few demands, he noted.
Ahmadi was quoted as saying that Korean hostages could be set free when Taliban prisoners are freed. There has been no change in their position, he said.
Asked about the level of security of the negotiators proposed by the Afghan government, he said, "The Afghan government seems to have no power. The actual power seems to belong to the multinational forces. The security guarantee seems to stems from those countries."