S. Korean Envoys to Meet With Taliban
According to AsiaOne News:
GHAZNI, Afghanistan (AP) — South Korean and Afghan officials searched for a meeting place Thursday after agreeing to hold face-to-face talks with the Taliban to seek the release of the remaining 21 South Korean captives, a chief negotiator said.
A delegation of eight South Korean lawmakers, meanwhile, departed for Washington on Thursday to urge the United States to help negotiate the release of the hostages. Earlier South Korean diplomatic efforts have failed to bend Afghanistan’s refusal to respond to Taliban demands for the release of militant prisoners.
The Taliban captors have agreed to meet with South Korea’s ambassador but have not found a suitable place, said Waheedullah Mujadidi, head of a delegation negotiating with the Taliban…..
…..South Korea has sent a presidential envoy to Afghanistan and President Roh Moo-hyun has spoken by phone to Afghan President Hamid Karzai. But the Afghan government has remained opposed to a prisoner swap, concerned it would encourage more kidnappings…..
- I cannot imagine what the South Korean’s Ambassador can achieve by going to negotiate with the Taliban…risking their own lives and possibly become hostages themselves…hmmm
That will kinda force some form of international action…but very very risky move…to me.
