YONHAP NEWS

(5th LD) S. Korean nationals abducted by Taliban in Afghanistan: Foreign Ministry

SEOUL, July 20 (Yonhap) -- Some 20 South Koreans were kidnapped by Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan, days after they entered the country for Christian volunteer work, the Foreign Ministry in Seoul said Friday.

   The Taliban, meanwhile, said they had seized 18 South Koreans, including 15 women, and will announce what demands they will make for their release, according to news reports from Kabul.

   "They are safe with us. We are investigating them and our demands and reaction will be announced later," said Taliban spokesman Said Yousuf Ahmadi via a satellite phone from an undisclosed location, according to the Reuters.

   Afghan police said Taliban fighters seized the South Koreans on Thursday afternoon from a bus that was traveling to Kabul on a highway from the southern city of Kandahar.

   Most of the abductees were members of Saemmul Church in Seongnam, just south of Seoul. They entered Afghanistan on July 13 for volunteer work, said officials at the Seoul's Foreign Ministry, adding that they were planning to return home Monday.

   Church officials said they reported the possible kidnapping to the Foreign Ministry shortly after they lost contact with the abductees.

   The Foreign Ministry established a task force to deal with the incident with its headquarters at the Korean Embassy in Afghanistan, ministry officials said.

   South Korea also decided to dispatch to Afghanistan a fact-finding mission composed of personnel from the Foreign Ministry, the National Intelligence Service and the National Police.

   Currently, more than 200 South Koreans are staying in Afghanistan, the Foreign Ministry said, adding it will ask them to return home as soon as possible.

   South Korea also has stationed in Afghanistan about 210 army engineers and medics for noncombat, reconstruction missions.

   Taliban insurgents have kidnapped a number of foreign nationals as part of their campaign to topple the Afghan government and remove its Western backers.


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