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thepeel
Joined: 08 Aug 2004
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 Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 6:45 pm Post subject: Fear of bloodbath thwarts efforts to rescue hostages |
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South Korean officials have twice blocked rescue missions to free 21 of their countrymen held by Taleban rebels amid concerns that Afghan military action could spark a bloodbath.
On one occasion Afghan and US troops were mobilised and ready to storm the Taleban positions. Separately, Afghan secret police were ready to arrest the families of the Taleban commanders involved as a way of applying pressure. But Korean officials vetoed the plans over fears that they would cause more bloodshed.
It has also emerged that the driver of the bus transporting the evangelical Christians is suspected of tipping off the Taleban about their route and that negotiations with Afghan officials have been hampered by divisions among Taleban commanders. The bus driver has been arrested.
The Taleban said yesterday that they would release two women today, who are said to be suffering ill-health. But they failed to deliver on a similar promise yesterday.The Times, the first British newspaper to visit Ghazni since the group was taken hostage on July 19, has learnt of the behind-the-scenes planning to end the stand-off.
�The reason we have not launched a military operation is the Koreans repeatedly requested we don�t. They are sure they will solve this by talking face to face,� Ustad Merajuddin Pathan, the Governor of Ghazni province, said. Two men from the original group of 23 have already been killed by their captors.
Abdul Rahim, head of the highway police in the Qarabagh district, where the Koreans were abducted, said: �The governor [wanted] to launch a military operation but the Koreans refused.�
A senior intelligence source said: �We know who the Taleban commanders are and we wanted to arrest their families but the Koreans wouldn�t let us.�
For the past three days South Korean officials have been engaged in frantic negotiations with two Taleban commanders in the Red Crescent building in Ghazni, a small city 140km (90 miles) from Kabul. The negotiations took place after the Afghan Government agreed to give safe passage to Mullah Nasratullah and Mullah Qari Bashir, the Taleban leaders. The meetings have led to no new developments.
Late yesterday the Taleban claimed to have released two women hostages, although these reports turned out to be false. �It is not true that any hostages have been released� Mr Pathan said yesterday. He also claimed that Afghan forces knew the exact location of the hostages and the names of the commanders holding them. �They are being held in Qarabagh district of Ghazni, in the village of Malang Khali,� Mr Pathan said. �We know the men holding them.�
According to Mr Rahim, the South Koreans were being held by three different commanders. He said: �The commanders all have different opinions � some want money and some want prisoners released. It makes negotiations very difficult.�
As President Musharraf of Pakistan addressed a 700-strong peace meeting in Kabul, pledging to end terror, officials in Ghazni blamed his Government for the kidnapping. �Mullah Nasratullah [one of the Taleban negotiators] is a member of ISI [the Pakistani intelligence agency]. He is posing as a mullah,� Mr Pathan said.
Afghanistan has long accused Pakistan of meddling in its affairs, which Pakistan strongly denies.
Afghan officials in Ghazni have little sympathy for the hostages. Many believe that they were in Afghanistan to preach Christianity.There was also incredulity that they were travelling from Kabul to Kandahar, one of the most dangerous roads in the country, without informing the police. |
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article2246475.ece
So, the Americans were going to try and get them and the Koreans refused. |
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Paji eh Wong
Joined: 03 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 8:02 pm Post subject: |
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| So, the Americans were going to try and get them and the Koreans refused. |
I didn't read anything about the Americans. It was the Afghans that were going to take the Taliban families and the Koreans refused.
Still, this should be brought up if and when Koreans start whining about a lack of support.
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�We know who the Taleban commanders are and we wanted to arrest their families but the Koreans wouldn�t let us.�
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I call bull shit. Afghanistan is a sovereign country. It can do what it wants, and doesn't need Korean permission to conduct military operations in its own borders. I think there are other motives behind this article. |
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thepeel
Joined: 08 Aug 2004
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| Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 8:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Paji eh Wong wrote: |
I didn't read anything about the Americans. |
From the article:
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On one occasion Afghan and US troops were mobilised and ready to storm the Taleban positions. But Korean officials vetoed the plans over fears that they would cause more bloodshed. |
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cbclark4
Joined: 20 Aug 2006
Location: Masan
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| Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 8:34 pm Post subject: |
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| The only thing we have to fear is fear itself! |
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Paji eh Wong
Joined: 03 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 2:44 am Post subject: |
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| BJWD wrote: |
| Paji eh Wong wrote: |
I didn't read anything about the Americans. |
From the article:
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On one occasion Afghan and US troops were mobilised and ready to storm the Taleban positions. But Korean officials vetoed the plans over fears that they would cause more bloodshed. |
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Fair enough.
Seems to me that all of the officials quoted were Afghan, however. |
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thepeel
Joined: 08 Aug 2004
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| Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 3:00 am Post subject: |
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Why don't you just say:
"I am too emotionally invested in my opinion to accept that it might be wrong".
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sundubuman
Joined: 04 Feb 2003
Location: seoul
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| Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 5:44 am Post subject: |
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| Paji eh Wong wrote: |
| Quote: |
| So, the Americans were going to try and get them and the Koreans refused. |
I didn't read anything about the Americans. It was the Afghans that were going to take the Taliban families and the Koreans refused.
Still, this should be brought up if and when Koreans start whining about a lack of support.
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�We know who the Taleban commanders are and we wanted to arrest their families but the Koreans wouldn�t let us.�
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I call bull *beep*. Afghanistan is a sovereign country. It can do what it wants, and doesn't need Korean permission to conduct military operations in its own borders. I think there are other motives behind this article. |
Afghanistan probably sees certain positives in the whole quagmire...vis-a-vis korea. Development assistance...Cheong Wa Dae pressuring the Chaebols to invest....
There might be plenty of Panchan for Kabul if it follows Korea's wishes in this whole sad affair.... |
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Paji eh Wong
Joined: 03 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 5:49 am Post subject: |
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| BJWD wrote: |
Why don't you just say:
"I am too emotionally invested in my opinion to accept that it might be wrong".
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Whatever dude. |
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Privateer
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
Location: Easy Street.
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| Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 5:42 pm Post subject: |
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What are the odds of the hostages all being killed if a military rescue operation goes ahead?
This isn't the movies guys. They'd be killed in a second. |
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Optimus Prime
Joined: 05 Jul 2007
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| Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 10:51 am Post subject: |
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| Koreans are too big of poooosies to do anything. |
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