Taliban Warns of More Kidnappings

GHAZNI, Afghanistan (AP) – The Taliban will keep kidnapping foreigners in Afghanistan, a purported spokesman for the group said Monday, adding that the Afghan and American presidents were responsible for the fate of 21 South Korean hostages.Qari Yousef Ahmadi, who claims to speak for the Taliban, said the lives of the hostages rest in the hands of Afghan President Karzai and President Bush, who are holding two days of talks at Camp David, Md.“Karzai and Bush will have responsibility for whatever happens to the hostages,” Mr. Ahmadi said.An Afghan doctor who runs a private clinic said he had dropped off almost $2,000 worth of antibiotics, vitamins and first-aid kits in rural Ghazni province Sunday intended for the Koreans, two of whom are said to be extremely ill. Dr. Mohammad Hashim Wahwaj said their Taliban captors told him that they had picked up the medicines.Mr. Karzai said in an interview Sunday with CNN that the Afghan government is working to free the South Korean hostages, but he indicated it would not give in to Taliban demands to release imprisoned militants in exchange for the Koreans’ lives.“We will not do anything that will encourage hostage-taking, that will encourage terrorism. But we will do everything else to have them released,” he said.Mr. Ahmadi said the Taliban will continue with its methods regardless of the results.“Whether the Kabul administration will do the (prisoner) exchange or not, it will not have any effect on our side. The process of kidnapping (foreigners) will be ongoing,” Mr. Ahmadi said.South Korea has asked the international community to be flexible in its policy of non-negotiation with terrorists. A South Korean presidential spokesman said his government was working separately on the hostages’ release and cautioned against high expectations over the Camp David meetings. A spokesman for the hostages’ families said they had little faith that the talks will end the nearly three-week hostage crisis.In Seoul, an official said that South Korean diplomats had made contact with the captives. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, declined to give further details about the conversation with at least one of the captives, citing safety concerns.Mr. Ahmadi said that the militants and South Korean officials remain in contact by phone, but have not yet agreed on a location where they can hold negotiations on the fate of the captives.The husband of one of the hostages posted a video message on YouTube, telling his wife not to give up hope because they will see each other soon.Ryu Hang-sik’s wife, Kim Yun-yeong, was kidnapped with 22 other church volunteers in southern Afghanistan on July 19. The Taliban have killed two men and threatened to kill others, including 16 women, if the Afghan government doesn’t release its fighters.“For the sake of our children, stay strong and healthy. Please, hold on to positive thoughts,” Mr. Ryu said in the message, read in Korean with English subtitles. “We will see each other soon.”About 150 demonstrators rallied at the American Embassy in Seoul, praying for the hostages’ release and demanding American help.Meanwhile, foreign and Afghan troops killed 13 suspected militants in Zabul province after they tried to attack the checkpoint on the main road linking Kabul to the southern city of Kandahar, said Ali Kheil, the spokesman for Zabul’s governor.___Associated Press Writer Kwang-tae Kim contributed to this report from Seoul, South Korea.

Taliban Warns of More Kidnappings

Taliban Warns of More Kidnappings

More from the New York Sun

Trump Will Never Give Up His Free Enterprise Policies to the Democrats

Trump Kicks Off Southern Swing in Florida, Warning Voters Against Returning to ‘Dark Age’ of Democratic Rule

Exclusive: The Green Card Holder Who Proves New Jersey Democrats Haven’t Cleaned Up Voter Rolls

France’s Blame Game Begins

Mike Tyson, the Middle East, and Fashion’s Skewed Moral Standards

Israel Is on High Alert After Terror Attack Amid Fears War Will Disrupt Election

Truth and Consequences Out of Tulsa Return To Torment Ethan Hawke in ‘The Lowdown’

Billion Dollar Startup Claims It’s Genetically Engineering and Cloning Dogs To Be Battle-Ready by End of Decade

More from the New York Sun

Trump Will Never Give Up His Free Enterprise Policies to the Democrats

Trump Kicks Off Southern Swing in Florida, Warning Voters Against Returning to ‘Dark Age’ of Democratic Rule

Exclusive: The Green Card Holder Who Proves New Jersey Democrats Haven’t Cleaned Up Voter Rolls

France’s Blame Game Begins

Mike Tyson, the Middle East, and Fashion’s Skewed Moral Standards

Israel Is on High Alert After Terror Attack Amid Fears War Will Disrupt Election

Truth and Consequences Out of Tulsa Return To Torment Ethan Hawke in ‘The Lowdown’

Billion Dollar Startup Claims It’s Genetically Engineering and Cloning Dogs To Be Battle-Ready by End of Decade