Afghan officials deny of any ongoing operation

Kabul, Aug 1 (UNI) Despite reports of an operation in the Qarabagh area of Ghazni province, officials of the Afghan Defence, Foreign Affairs and Interior Ministers and the US led Coalition Forces denied knowledge of any ongoing operations.

Both the Ministries of Defence and Interior officials confirmed that leaflets had been dropped in the area, warning the local residents of a forthcoming operation, but both stated that the operation was a ''routine one.'' Defence Ministry officials also claimed that any was some weeks away, that leaflets had also been dropped in the Ghazni city. South Korean officials in Kabul also said they had no information about any imminent operation to free the hostages. A local official, who had earlier been quoted by a news agency confirming an ongoing operation, later denied it.

However, it is unlikely that the government would provide any prior information in the event that it planned to carry out any operation to free the hostages. The fear of hostage casualties incurred in the operation, would bring the government under immense pressure not to undertake any such moves, especially from the families of the Koreans and the Korean Government as well. The Karzai Government has been caught in a cleft stick over the Korean hostage issue. The controversial 'deal' over the Italian hostage, whereby several Taliban prisoners were exchanged for the Italian journalist, was severely criticised and the government accused of paving the way for more such kidnappings.

Even though the deal was described as an exception at that time, the government's refusal to exchange prisoners over the Korean hostage issue will be seen as ''double standards.'' On the other hand, release of any more Taliban prisoners could encourage further kidnappings. A military operation may be the only possibility given the limited choices.

With growing threats from the Taliban, who have already killed two hostages, there is pressure on the government to resolve the crisis quickly.

An official of the Task Force set up to deal with the hostage crisis admitted that the Italian deal had made things much more difficult for the government. Officially however, the Karzai Government continues to state that it had no choice over the matter.

The President's newly appointed spokesperson Humayun Hamidzada defended the decision, saying ''it was neither good nor bad. We did what we had to do.'' He, however, added that ''as a principle, we shouldn't encourage kidnapping by accepting their demands.'' The government had earlier set up a task force comprising representatives of the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior, Korean representatives, chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

UNI