SEOUL: South Korea Monday told 19 former hostages to pay some of the costs of their rescue from Afghanistan's Taliban, amid increasing criticism of the ill-fated trip by the Christian aid workers. Click here for more.


SEOUL: Foreign minister Song Min-Soon said on Saturday that South Korea had no choice about negotiating with Afghanistan's Taliban with the lives of 19 hostages at stake. Click here for more.


Now, no one knows, other than maybe the top persons in SEOUL, whether there is any monetary deal between the Taliban and South Korea. Well, if money is really involved, then I am afraid the Taliban is going to have lots of cash to do what they feel is right. In the end, this whole cycle might just repeat itself and who knows when this is going to end?


I wonder what Singapore will do if it is in SEOUL's shoes. Probably not going to give in to the Taliban's demands but try to achieve a win win situation. But what is a win win situation? There is none to begin with.


The Talibans are going to win no matter what in this case, it is just a matter of how much. And it is therefore, for people to judge, just how much loss we can minimise. Whatever is the decision, there is bound to be criticisms.


Now, what has the world become?