The governor of Ghazni Province where 21 Korean hostages are presumed to be held by the Taliban on Tuesday gave the Chosun Ilbo a first-hand account of negotiations with the Islamist militants. Mehra Juddin Patan leads negotiations with the group for the release of the Korean captives. The 30-minute phone interview took place after a marathon meeting with some 20 tribal elders on the killing of the second Korean victim, Shim Sung-min. Patan said that military operations to rescue the hostages are not an option now, advising the Korean government to seek help from Pakistan, which has influence with the Taliban.
¡ªThere were no negotiations, although another Korean hostage was killed by Taliban militants on Tuesday.
¡°We will meet with Taliban representatives in Ghazni at 9 a.m. Wednesday. Twenty tribal elders will participate in the meeting. We are going to bring as many negotiators as possible.¡±
¡ªDo you think negotiations will be effective when the Afghan government rejects the Taliban¡¯s demand for a swap of the Korean hostages with Taliban prisoners?
¡°We have no new card. Tribal elders will again pressure the Taliban to free captives.¡±
¡ªWho is the dialogue channel for the Taliban?
¡°Taliban commander of Ghazni Abdullah Jan and Mohammad Hassan. Hassan is the dialogue channel.¡±
¡ªA breakthrough is needed in the negotiations.
¡°The Korean government should win the cooperation of the Pakistani government. The headquarters of the Taliban is in Pakistan and the Taliban leadership is under the influence of Pakistan¡¯s Military Intelligence.¡±
¡ªIsn¡¯t there any chance that the Taliban would change its demand?
¡°In negotiations, they look ready to change their demand sometimes, and at other times they push ahead with the demand for a swap of Taliban prisoners. I am not in a position to elaborate on the matter. The hostage crisis will easily be settled if the Korean government puts pressure on Pakistan.¡±
¡ªHow are the Korean hostages?
¡°I don¡¯t know exactly. But we delivered medicines from the Korean embassy in Kabul to the Taliban.¡±
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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