What’s not clear is whether they are making any progress in those contacts. While Seoul is being tight-lipped over the matter, there have been conflicting reports by foreign news media on when face-to-face talks will be held.

The Governor of Ghazni Province Marajudin Pathan said on Thursday the two sides are close to agreeing on a location for talks which may come by the end of this week.

Governor Pathan believes that Taliban’s demand of a prisoners-for-hostages deal is a dead issue but a ransom payment could be its alternative.

He said medicines sent by Korea and an Afghan doctor reached the Taliban and the captives who were reported have been gravely ill have recovered.

Citing a local Taliban leader in Ghazni Province, Korean news daily Hankyoreh reported that Korea and the Taliban may meet at the bargaining table as early as Thursday.

A Taliban commander in Qarabagh district who goes by the name Abdullah said Korea and his group are near a compromise and it’s highly likely that the two sides will meet in a Taliban-controlled area.

Korea's Ambassador to Afghanistan Kang Sung-zu reportedly told Pashtun tribal leaders that all Korean relief agencies will evacuate from Afghanistan within the next month, according to the Associated Press.

The Korean government enforced a travel ban earlier this week which bars Koreans from visiting or residing in Afghanistan without Seoul’s permission.

There are about 150 Koreans living in Afghanistan including business owners and aid workers.

Families of the hostages are hoping that a Tribal assembly which began on Thursday will pressure the Taliban to release the captives.

Tribal elders and clerics from Afghanistan and Pakistan will hold a three-day council meeting called the Jirga in Kabul.

Arirang News