Negotiations between Taliban representatives and envoys from Seoul provided a breakthrough on Tuesday, the militants reportedly agreeing to release the nineteen South Koreans abducted more than a month ago in eastern Afghanistan.

The direct talks between the two sides resumed early Tuesday after a 10-day period on incertitude. After the meeting held in Ghazni city ended, one of the Taliban representatives Mullah Nasurullah announced that all hostages will be released in the following days.

He said two conditions were accepted by Seoul in exchange for the hostages: the withdrawal of South Korean troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2007 along with ending all Christian missions in the country by the end of August.

The Taliban negotiator added that the militants holding nineteen Korean nationals since July 19 acknowledged that Seoul can’t influence the stance of Kabul officials in meeting their demands.

The Afghan government refused to negotiate with militant groups and release insurgents from prisons, as the Taliban have previously requested.

He also said that it will take a few days to gather all the hostages because they have been kept in different locations and after that they will be handed over to the authorities

The governor of Ghazni province, Mehrajuddin Patan has confirmed the statements made by the Taliban saying “Yes they have agreed that the Korean forces would go out of the country and also the Korean missionaries should stop their work in (Afghanistan).”

”The government, because of the safe return of the Korean hostages, will have the area under their control and (will) help the hostages to reach here safely.”

”There is no decision on the date for their release,” Patan added.

Along with the appearance of this news so did some speculations that Seoul actually paid a sum of money in exchange for the aid workers, but no officials confirmed the rumor.

Initially, 23 South Koreans were abducted as they were travelling towards Kandahar through the Ghazni province, but two men were shot dead by the militants after Kabul refused to meet the kidnappers’ demands. Two other women were released on August 13 after their health condition deteriorated during detention.