ID :
90196
Tue, 11/17/2009 - 15:29
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/90196
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea did not promise Taliban to keep troops out of Afghanistan: official
By Sam Kim
SEOUL, Nov. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea did not offer to refrain from redeploying
troops to Afghanistan when it engaged in negotiations to secure the release of
civilians held hostage by the Taliban in 2007, a senior official told reporters
Tuesday.
The comment helps pave the way for South Korea to dispatch troops to Afghanistan
after it withdrew more than 200 military medics and engineers from the Central
Asian country in 2007, ending several years of deployment under a U.S.-led
campaign against the Taliban.
The withdrawal came after the South Korean government negotiated with the
insurgents to secure the release of 23 South Korean Christian missionaries, two
of whom were killed.
"We did not make such a promise in 2007," said a South Korean defense ministry
official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. He said he personally checked
with other officials who led the South Korean side in the negotiations with the
Taliban.
His comment rebuts a statement on Monday by Defense Minister Kim Tae-young, who
said he understood that such an offer was made when the negotiations were
conducted.
South Korean media have also speculated that a similar pledge was made with the
Taliban during the negotiations in 2007.
South Korea plans to redeploy troops to protect a group of civilian workers
helping to reconstruct Afghanistan, where the U.S. is considering a surge in
troops to fight a growing insurgency.
Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan told reporters South Korea is considering setting
up a military base in Parwan Province, just north of Kabul.
The announcement for the plan came after U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates
visited Seoul last month for annual security talks between the allies and called
on South Korea to take a greater role in global security efforts.
The U.S. has 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea, serving as a deterrent
against North Korea. U.S. President Barack Obama is set to arrive in South Korea
Wednesday and visit an American base here as part of his four-nation Asian trip.
samkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Nov. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea did not offer to refrain from redeploying
troops to Afghanistan when it engaged in negotiations to secure the release of
civilians held hostage by the Taliban in 2007, a senior official told reporters
Tuesday.
The comment helps pave the way for South Korea to dispatch troops to Afghanistan
after it withdrew more than 200 military medics and engineers from the Central
Asian country in 2007, ending several years of deployment under a U.S.-led
campaign against the Taliban.
The withdrawal came after the South Korean government negotiated with the
insurgents to secure the release of 23 South Korean Christian missionaries, two
of whom were killed.
"We did not make such a promise in 2007," said a South Korean defense ministry
official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. He said he personally checked
with other officials who led the South Korean side in the negotiations with the
Taliban.
His comment rebuts a statement on Monday by Defense Minister Kim Tae-young, who
said he understood that such an offer was made when the negotiations were
conducted.
South Korean media have also speculated that a similar pledge was made with the
Taliban during the negotiations in 2007.
South Korea plans to redeploy troops to protect a group of civilian workers
helping to reconstruct Afghanistan, where the U.S. is considering a surge in
troops to fight a growing insurgency.
Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan told reporters South Korea is considering setting
up a military base in Parwan Province, just north of Kabul.
The announcement for the plan came after U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates
visited Seoul last month for annual security talks between the allies and called
on South Korea to take a greater role in global security efforts.
The U.S. has 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea, serving as a deterrent
against North Korea. U.S. President Barack Obama is set to arrive in South Korea
Wednesday and visit an American base here as part of his four-nation Asian trip.
samkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
