S Korea orders aid agencies out of Afghanistan

GHAZNI – South Korea yesterday ordered aid organisations from the Asian country to leave Afghanistan by the end of August, citing safety reasons and in an apparent effort to help free 21 hostages being held by Taliban militants.

The governor of the region where the hostages are being held, meanwhile, said South Korean officials and Taliban militants were close to agreeing on a location for a face-to-face meeting aimed at breaking a stalemate in the crisis. Governor Marajudin Pathan also said he thought the Taliban’s demand for a release of prisoners was a dead issue, but that a ransom payment might win the hostages’ freedom.The South Korean government issued guidelines for its aid organisations saying that ‘due to safety reasons’ they must leave Afghanistan by the end of the month, a South Korean Embassy official said on condition of anonymity due to policy.The government last month banned its citizens from travelling to Afghanistan.”At the moment, the embassy is encouraging them to leave early, even before the end of this month.They have to leave by the end of this month,” the official said.Authorities will decide whether they can return to the country after the situation settles down’, the official added.South Korean Ambassador Kang Sung-zu told Pashtun tribal leaders from Nangarhar province on Wednesday that his government would not let any more of its citizens or aid organisations travel to Afghanistan, the Afghan TV station Tolo reported on Wednesday.The ambassador also said that if the 21 hostages are released and if the Afghan government can provide a security guarantee, then Korean aid organisations might one day return to the country.Nampa-APGovernor Marajudin Pathan also said he thought the Taliban’s demand for a release of prisoners was a dead issue, but that a ransom payment might win the hostages’ freedom.The South Korean government issued guidelines for its aid organisations saying that ‘due to safety reasons’ they must leave Afghanistan by the end of the month, a South Korean Embassy official said on condition of anonymity due to policy.The government last month banned its citizens from travelling to Afghanistan.”At the moment, the embassy is encouraging them to leave early, even before the end of this month.They have to leave by the end of this month,” the official said.Authorities will decide whether they can return to the country after the situation settles down’, the official added.South Korean Ambassador Kang Sung-zu told Pashtun tribal leaders from Nangarhar province on Wednesday that his government would not let any more of its citizens or aid organisations travel to Afghanistan, the Afghan TV station Tolo reported on Wednesday.The ambassador also said that if the 21 hostages are released and if the Afghan government can provide a security guarantee, then Korean aid organisations might one day return to the country.Nampa-AP