Taliban news conference 100 yards away from an Afghan intelligence service office in Kabul

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http://www.suntimes.com/news/world/510657,taliban081507.article

Taliban wins media attention

August 15, 2007
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

KABUL, Afghanistan---- A string of hostage dramas in Afghanistan has been a publicity coup for the Islamic militants of the Taliban, who hope high-profile kidnappings will help drive out foreigners and make Afghans view them as powerful.

In the latest and biggest case, militants grabbed 23 South Koreans in mid-July and within days released video images and an audio interview of the hostages, winning media attention around the world and creating a platform for the Taliban to push its political agenda.

Soon after, two top Taliban leaders were granted safe passage by Afghan President Hamid Karzai's government for face-to-face talks with Korean officials. That led to a Taliban news conference in the street -- an embarrassing 100 yards from an Afghan intelligence service office.

''The fact that the Taliban have been given this legitimacy is a body blow for the U.S.-led occupation and may signal many more kidnappings of a similar nature,'' said Anthony Moorhouse at Dynamiq Pty Ltd., a security consulting firm in Australia. ''The success that this kidnapping has brought to the Taliban, in terms of political leverage, is beyond even their expectations.''