(AKI) - (Syed Saleem Shahzad) - Korean hostages held by the Taliban in Afghanistan are being moved to different parts of the country, and maybe on to Pakistan, ahead of what their captors believe is a NATO rescue operation, sources have told Adnkronos International (AKI). "They (the 21 hostages) are being shifted from Ghazni to various safe locations as there is no signal that the Afghan government will succumb to Taliban demands. | "A few of them were shifted to Birmal (Afghanistan) from where it is likely that they would be shifted to Shawal (in Pakistan's North Waziristan)." |
A few of them were shifted to Birmal (Afghanistan) from where it is likely that they would be shifted to Shawal (in Pakistan's North Waziristan)," a source speaking on condition of anonymity told AKI.
Birmal, a traditional Taliban stronghold, is part of Paktia province and situated on Afghanistan's border withPakistan. The Taliban presence is also strong in Shawal but part of that territory is under the control of tribes loyal to the Pakistani government. Both areas comprise high mountaints, gorges and the thick DareNishtar forest making military operations difficult. Sightings of Osama bin Laden were reported in the area as recently as September 2004.
The Korean Christian aid workers - two of whom have been killed since their capture - are being held by Taliban fighters under the command of Maulana Jalaluddin Haqqani, believed to be the second highest ranking member of the Islamist movement led by Mullah Omar. |