A Taliban leader said Saturday that negotiations for the release of 21 South Korean hostages were going well and that the hostages would "definitely" be released even as soon as "today or tomorrow."
"God willing the government (of Afghanistan) and the government of Korea will accept this," said Mullah Qari Bashir outside the Afghan Red Cross Office in the Ghazni province, according to The Associated Press. "Definitely these people will be released. God willing our friends (Taliban militants in prison) will be released."
When asked when the Koreans might be released, Bashir replied, "Hopefully today or tomorrow."
Taliban representatives and South Korean officials met face-to-face for the first time for a four-hour talk on Friday. The rebels have not changed their demands and are still calling for the release of 21 Taliban prisoners in exchange for the remaining Korean hostages.
"I'm very optimistic. The negotiations are continuing on a positive track," Bashir said.
However, South Korea still has reservations on how soon the captives will be freed.
"A quick release is a good thing but we don't see that the possibility of the quick release is high," a South Korean official in Seoul told AP on condition of anonymity.
Earlier, Seoul had repeatedly conveyed to the Taliban that it is virtually powerless in granting the rebels' demand to free prisoners held by the Afghan government and U.S. forces.
