The United States on Friday included the United Nations in efforts to get Taliban-held South Korean captives released, emphasizing a "united stand" in pressuring the militant hostage-takers.
"The most important thing for us is that we work with the Afghans and the South Koreans to see what kind of tools and pressures and what kind of things we can all do, as well as working with the U.N., to be able to get the Taliban to do the right thing," State Department spokesman Tom Casey said.
Showing flexibility, Taliban, on the other hand, said that they will be able to meet with South Korean negotators whereever proposed once the United Nations guarantee their security.
"We are ready to meet with South Korea whereever, such as U.S. military bases, Kabul, the presidential palace, the govenment official building if the U.N firmly guarantees their security," said Yonhap News quoted pourported spokesman Qari Yousaf Ahmadi as saying.