Korean Christian Hostages Still Alive

Last Thursday 23¹ evangelical Korean Christians traveling through Afghanistan for missionary work were captured “on the main Kabul to Kandahar highway . . . in the largest single abduction of foreigners since 2001.” Those who were captured are part of Korean Action, a South Korean Christian medical aid agency based in Kandahar.

Afghan officials said that troops had sealed off an area of the southern province of Ghazni, where they believe the hostages are being held. The Koreans were seized from a bus on the main Kabul to Kandahar highway last Thursday in the largest single abduction of foreigners since 2001.

“We know where the hostages are held, but since the kidnappers warned that they would kill them if we attack, we are waiting for the order,” said Gen Mohammed Zahir Azimi, spokesman for the Defence Ministry.

For their part, US forces said they would only launch a rescue attempt with the agreement of both the Afghan and South Korean governments.

. . .

A Korean negotiating team, including the country’s deputy foreign minister, arrived in Kabul yesterday and claimed to have opened channels to the Taliban through tribal elders in Ghazni.

Last night, the Taliban extended its deadline for the release of the prisoners by 24 hours in a message carried on its official website.

“Since Korea has sent a delegation of eight people to negotiate for the release of their 23 nationals and has showed their readiness to solve the situation through local elders, the Taliban leadership council extended the deadline for another 24 hours,” read the statement. It warned the Korean delegates to accelerate their work or “they would be responsible for the bad consequences.”

Read the whole story.

Coverage:

• CBN News: Taliban: 23 S.K. Christians Die If Troops Stay
• China Aid: Glimmers of hope for 23 young Christian hostages
• Christian Post:
  • Taliban Kidnaps 18 Korean Christians in Afghanistan
  • S. Korean President Urges Taliban to Release Christian Hostages
  • Taliban Re-Extends Deadline for Korean Christian Hostages
  • Taliban Threatens to Start Killing ‘A Few’ Korean Christian Captives
  • Korean Christian Hostages Still Alive
  • Body of S. Korean Youth Pastor Found

• Christian Today:
  • Taliban Kidnap 23 Korean Christians from Afghan Bus
  • Talks to Free Koreans Reach Crucial Stage - Taliban
  • Taliban say they Killed Korean Hostage
• MSNBC: Bullet-riddled body of S. Korean hostage found
• Telegraph: Taliban threatens to kill 23 Korean hostages
• Yahoo: 2ND LD: Taliban get ransom to spare S. Korean hostages’ lives: Official

Notes

1. The bus driver, who was released Thursday night, claims that their were 23 on board (18 women and 5 men). The Taliban claims to have captured 18 total. This discrepancy is still unresolved. [↩ back]

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