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SPIN BOLDAK - South Korea paid Afghanistan's Taleban more than US$20 million ($29 million) to release 19 missionaries they were holding hostage, a senior insurgent leader said yesterday, vowing to use the funds to buy arms and mount suicide attacks.
The last of the freed hostages arrived in South Korea yesterday on a flight from Dubai.
Seoul denies paying a ransom, but critics say negotiating with the Taleban sets a dangerous precedent that could spur more kidnappings.
"We got more than US$20 million dollars from them [the Seoul Government]," the Taleban commander said on condition of anonymity.
"With it we will purchase arms, get our communication network renewed and buy vehicles for carrying out more suicide attacks."
- Reuters
