The Taliban has freed over 12 of the 19 hostages that they were holding probably as a show of good faith.they probably expect the Korean government to respond in kind.maybe there already was some sort of a secret deal that has already taken place.anyway the problem of the Taliban is not going away even though the world powers may wish that it had done so.the crisis in Afghanistan is only getting more and more critical day by day.entire provinces are slipping out of the control of the current government.the time for a showdown with the Taliban forces has indeed come and they have to be dealt with right now or else it will be too late to prevent the resurgence of the Taliban!