Demonstrators carry signs calling for an end to the Korean hostage situation in Afghanistan outside the United Nations in New York, Aug. 6, 2007.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    KABUL, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- All South Korean aid organizations were ordered to pull out of Afghanistan within one month, local media quoted a diplomatic envoy as saying on Thursday.

    South Korean Ambassador to Afghanistan Kang Sung-zu told some Afghan tribal elders on Wednesday that his government would forbid its citizens and aid organizations from traveling to Afghanistan, and that all South Korean aid groups have to withdraw from Afghanistan within one month, TOLO TV reported.

    A total of 23 South Koreans were kidnapped by Taliban militants in Ghazni province of central Afghanistan on July 19.

    Two male hostages were killed by militants, and the Afghan government refused to release Taliban prisoners in exchange for hostages as the militants demanded, while the other hostages are still being held by the Taliban.

    Karzai calls for joint fight against terrorism

    KABUL, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai on Thursday described terrorism as common enemies of both his nation and Pakistan, and called for joint fight against the menace.

    "Terrorists are the common enemies of all of us. They, the terrorists, are defaming Islam, Afghanistan and Pakistan," the Afghan leader told an audience of more than 600 people from the two countries who were attending a tribal Peace Jirga or Grand Assembly here in the Afghan capital. Full story

    Taliban express readiness to swap Korean female hostages 

    KABUL, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Taliban militants on Tuesday expressed readiness to swap all the Korean female hostages with their women supporters held by Afghan and U.S. military, insurgents' spokesman Qari Yusuf said.

    "We offer to exchange all the Korean females with those Taliban women supporters who have been languishing at Afghan government prisons and U.S. military detention centers in Kandahar and Bagram," Ahmadi told Xinhua from an unknown location. Full story